INQUIRER Sports

SAN JOSE, California, United States ? IBA World Champion Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton defeated veteran Donna "Nature Girl" Biggers December 4 via unanimous decision to win the World Boxing Association?s Female Super Bantamweight title in a bruising 10-round fight at the HP Pavilion here.

This is Julaton?s second consecutive world title fight in four months, and brings her record to 6-1-1. With this win she garnered the same title that Filipino great Manny Pacquiao won in 2001 at the Billy Graham Auditorium at the Civic Center in San Francisco.

For the first time ever, Filipinos have both won the male and female WBO Super Bantamweight Championship belts.

Julaton, the Filipino-American female fighting pride of the Philippines, returned to the American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank for her second consecutive main event. In September, she captured the vacant IBA Female Super Bantamweight Championship when she defeated Kelsey Jeffries (41-10-1, 4 KO?s) of Gilroy by scoring a 10-round majority decision.

In Biggers, Julaton faced a much more experienced fighter with proven knockout power.

Biggers, from Boiling, South Calorina also has four times more the number of professional fights under her belt. But as Julaton has said before, she doesn?t fear fighting seasoned opponents. The tougher the better. This was the first match between Julaton and Biggers.

Julaton said she ?wants to do her best? because of the support her community fan base has given her. ?It makes her soft? to think how they are so embracing of her chosen career.

Partial proceeds of tickets purchased through the Ana Julaton website will be donated to typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines.