Entering the boxing ring at the Frontwave Arena – accompanied by a U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard from MCI-West, H&S Battalion at nearby Camp Pendleton – undisputed female world flyweight title holder Gabriela Fundora went to war against opponent Marilyn Badillo.
Fundora, of Coachella, scored her fourth knockout win in her last five fights, successfully defending her four world titles and the Ring Magazine belt to remain undefeated. Badillo of Mexico suffered her first professional loss. The time of the victory was 1:44 of the seventh round.
“I’m maturing. I knew the knockout was going to come, it was just how I wanted to place it,” the champion said of her victory.
Fundora is undefeated with 16 wins, scoring her eighth knockout. Badillo is 20-1-1, with three knockouts.
It was a night of firsts – Fundora’s first appearance in a main event, the first female headline fight for Golden Boy Boxing, and the first combat sports event at Frontwave Arena.
Badillo is skilled, but she had to try and overcome a significant height and reach disadvantage. Fundora is 5-foot-9, Badillo 5-foot 4.
NO MORE FOR MARILYN BADILLO!!! Gabriela Fundora successfully defends her undisputed titles in her first ever main event!!! pic.twitter.com/wQiIxbrHft
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) April 20, 2025But Badillo was game and worked to make herself a hard-to-reach target. Fundora fired power shots at will almost from the opening bell. Her left hook couldn’t miss. When Badillo came in close to try and smother her opponent, Fundora dug hard to Badillo’s body.
Badillo quickly sported a growing swelling high on her forehead. She showed plenty of courage, but she was outgunned and outworked by the champion, losing every passing round.
Going into the seventh round, Fundora’s trainer and father, Freddy Fundora, told her to go for the knockout. Fundora caught Badillo with a vicious left hook to the head and the challenger fell to her knees.
She managed to stand up, but Badillo’s corner wisely asked referee Rudy Barragan to stop the fight, giving Fundora the victory.
“We train every round for knockouts,” said Fundora, who understands the value of entertaining fans. “If we don’t get you with the first one, we try second, third, all the way through ten.”
Turning to the Frontwave crowd, Fundora asked, “How you guys like it today? This is amazing.”
Fundora thanked Camp Pendleton for providing the Marine Corps color guard. “I want to thank all the troops who are serving and did serve. Thank you for your service and all you’ve done to protect us.”
Perez thrills fans with upset win
In the co-main event, it was good news for Jorge “Chino” Perez of Sinaloa, Mexico (33-4, 26 KOs) who won a hard fought split decision over Charles “Bad News” Conwell of Cleveland (21-1, 16 KOs), who suffered his first loss. Scores were 115-113 twice for Perez, and 115-113 for Conwell.
Cheered on by his fans, it was by far the biggest win of the 28-year-old Perez’s career. Like so many other Mexican fighters, Perez delivered a tougher test than oddsmakers expected.
“My team, they kept reinforcing round after round, ‘we’re winning, keep going!’” said Perez.
Perez worked Conwell hard to the body in the early rounds and was the more accurate puncher through the middle rounds. Perez also won the crucial last round to seal his victory. Conwell landed good right and left hooks to the head but could not figure out how to disarm Perez.
“Every fight, we get better and better,” said Perez after his victory. “I worked really, really hard. I knew winning this fight something big could happen. If I keep working, something big’s going to come my way.”
San Diego’s Chaves scores shutout victory
Local fans cheered on San Diego’s undefeated super bantamweight prospect Jorge “El Niño Dorado” Chaves (14-0, 8 KOs) who put in eight rounds against durable Brandon Douglas of Salt Lake City, Utah (13-2, 11 KOs). Wearing trunks in Padres brown and gold, Chaves had to settle for a complete shutout on all three scorecards for a unanimous decision.
Chaves promised fans an early knockout. But Douglas had serious intentions, a solid chin and was willing to trade shots with Chaves. Game on. Chaves caught Douglas with a check left hook, and he bounced off the canvas, but wasn’t seriously hurt. Chaves continued to dominate Douglas and give his fans a show.
And there’s more boxing to come in Oceanside. Spokesperson Jane Murcia of Golden Boy Boxing said the promoter intends to return to Frontwave for another event later this year.
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