Guidi and Tourtlotte Win by Decision

Two Female Bouts on the Card:  Guidi and Tourtlotte Win by Decisions Photos and Story By Jesus Sanchez /Ringside for WBAN

HAYWARD (July 15, 2001) Last night, on a night when women ruled, Big Palooka Promotions put on an entertaining night of boxing at Centennial Hall in Hayward, California. The four fight card pitted Gina “Boom Boom” Guidi against Britt VanBuskirk for the WIBA Super Welterweight belt in the ten- round main event. In more women’s action Mary Tourtlotte and Andrea “The Cobra” Johnson both made their pro debuts in a scheduled four rounder.

Also in attendance was one of the best “pound-for-pound” fighters in the world, Lucia Rijker. Lucia made quite an impression with the Hayward crowd.  She was surrounded by the knowledgeable fight fans asking her for autographs and posing for photos. She gladly signed for each and everyone who approached her. Mary Tourtlotte, from San Jose, CA, won an impressive four round unanimous decision against Andrea Johnson,  San Francisco, CA.

Mary repeatedly used a stiff left jab to keep Andrea at a safe distance and then followed up with straight rights to stun Andrea on several occasions during the fight. Johnson was tough and put together some good combinations of her own but it wasn’t enough as Tourtlotte was in control of the fight from the beginning.

There were no knockdowns. Gina Guidi, San Leandro, CA, scored a tough ten- round decision against Britt VanBuskirk, Illinois, to earn the WIBA Super Welterweight crown.

Britt was the busier of the two fighters but Guidi landed the more telling blows. There were no knockdowns in the fight.  Van Buskirk was content to fight on the inside most  of the night. She threw many punches but none with “mean intentions.” Gina landed hard rights to Britt’s nose round after round forcing Van Buskirk’s corner to deal with a constant bloody nose. Gina finished the fight strong and it was enough to earn her a points win. Latest update on this fight 09/26/01 WBAN received notice from the WIBA that Gina “Boom Boom” Guidi was disqualified for the WIBA 147-lb.

World Championship belt after she failed a post-fight drug test.   Bellos said in his announcement, “Our Organization recognize the disqualification of Miss Gina Guidi through the California Athletic Commission, because she failed her post fight drug test after the VanBuskirk fight.”