Galina Ivanova came within one scorecard of the IBF world title in Toluca. On 30 November 2013, she fought Janeth Pérez over ten rounds for the vacant bantamweight belt. Two judges favoured Pérez; one scored it for Galina.
Pérez left as champion. For us, the night remains an important part of our work with Galina after her 2012 comeback — a world title opportunity fought for until the final bell.
Pérez: a former world champion
Pérez came from Zapopan, Jalisco, and fought under the nickname “Cuisilla”. Her professional journey began in November 2008. Among those who trained her in her early years was Óscar “Chololo” Larios — a Mexican boxer with world championship experience of his own.
Janeth won the WBA bantamweight title in July 2011 with a seventh-round stoppage of Yolis Marrugo, then made three successful defences. In less than five years as a professional, she had won a world title, defended it and experienced losing it.
Another title chance for both fighters
The start of 2013 was difficult for Pérez. In January, Irma García took her WBA belt, and in April Janeth lost the rematch too. A July victory over María Elena Villalobos restored success to her career before the new title opportunity against Ivanova.
For Galina, the road to Toluca passed through her professional comeback in 2012. In our shared work, Mexico was the next important step: another ten-round world title bout, this time against a boxer seeking a second championship ascent before her own crowd. At Agustín Ramos Millán Hall, there was no reigning holder of the belt at stake. Both women entered as challengers.
Exchanges into the closing minutes
Pérez began more successfully with the right hand, while Galina sought an answer with her left. In the final three rounds, Ivanova increased her attacks and both women engaged in persistent exchanges. The finish left the decision to the judges.
The three cards offered different readings of the ten rounds. One favoured the Bulgarian, two favoured Pérez, who received the vacant IBF world belt. For Galina, it was a full-distance loss — a hard ending to a fight in which she remained in contention until the final bell.
The story beyond the final bell
In professional boxing, a title opportunity gathers a great deal of work into one night, and the final result compresses it all into a few words. Toluca is such a moment in our time with Galina: a comeback, new bouts and reaching a world championship fight far from Bulgaria.
The belt left with Pérez. Ivanova’s ten rounds remain part of that comeback story — with the ambition that brought her to Mexico and the effort to turn the opportunity into victory until the very end.
Galina Ivanova vs Janeth Pérez · IBF World
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
Support the next big night in the ring.
Argo Ruse and Dikar.bg support the work of Alexeev Boxing. Stand alongside the boxers whose journeys you follow here, through a partnership with a fighter, event or club. We will prepare a focused proposal for your company.
