On Friday, April 1, WBA World female super lightweight champion Ana Laura Esteche (11-4-2, 2 KOs), from Buenos Aires, Argentina, defends her title in France against undefeated Farida El Hadrati (9-0, 5 KOs), the European super lightweight champion from Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, France.

Esteche, 25, turned pro in 2011with a win over undefeated Marisa Gabriela Nunez in Buenos Aires. She lost her next fight by majority decision and then resumed winning.

“La Monita” won the WBA title in April 2014 by defeating 19-0-2 Monica Silvinia Acosta. The champion has had one defense of her crown, a split decision victory against Svetlana Kulakova in Russia.

It has been a rocky few years for “La Monita.” She won and defended the title but has two losses in her last five fights, including a loss in her last fight to Adela Celeste del Carmen Peralta.

Thirty-four-year-old El Hadrati turned pro in 2002 with an early stoppage of Zsofia Bedo, who was sporting a 6-26-1 record coming in. She had two fights in 2013 and three fights in both 2014 and 2015. This will be her first fight of the New Year, as well as her first shot at a world title, and the Frenchwoman with the heavy hands is ready to get down.

This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.