Since the World Boxing Federation was originally founded by American Larry Carrier in 1988, many of the sport’s biggest names have won a WBF title, and proudly defended the blue, red and gold belt all over the world.
In the Champions Of The Past Series we take a closer look at some of the boxers who held WBF titles in years gone by, from lesser known champions to world renowned fighters, legends of the sport and current or future Hall of Famers.
Former WBF Women’s World Flyweight Champion Irma “La Guerita” Sanchez from Guadalajara in Mexico turned professional in August of 2006, fighting as a Super Featherweight.
Only eighteen at the time (Born December 6, 1987), she got off to a successful start, but a year later she had already lost twice (6-2) and it was clear she needed to move down in weight to maximize her potential.
So she did, and at Super Flyweight she managed to win something called the “Mundo Hispano Intercontinental” title, defeating Magaly Avalos (2-2) on points, in a rematch on May 2, 2008.
Avalos had been the first to beat Sanchez, almost exactly a year earlier, and she showed considerable improvements as she won convincingly over the ten round distance.
A technical draw against Susana Vasquez (4-2) in a fight for the Mexican national title, and a landslide unanimous decision over Lucida Avalos (0-7) to capture the WBC International belt, followed.
On December 6, 2008, Sanchez scored her first real impressive victory when she beat Panamanian Chanttall Martinez (7-2) by unanimous decision, in the headlining bout of a show in Zapopan.
After losing her first two outings, Martinez had won seven straight fights, and would go on to win and make three defenses of the WBA World Super Bantamweight title.
After a victory over former Mexican Champion Sandra Hernandez (2-4) in April of 2009, Sanchez was picked to vie for the Interim WBC World Flyweight title against compatriot Mariana Juarez (19-5-3) the following June.
Now 13-2-1 (2), Sanchez did well and was competitive throughout, but eventually lost a relatively close unanimous decision.
Sanchez rebounded well and won her next five fights, all minor title bouts, beating decent opponent such as Susana Morales (7-6-1), Yesenia Castrejon (4-2), Kanittha Kokietgym (4-1) and Soledad Macedo (8-4-1).
That streak earned her a second world title-shot, this time against reigning WBC Light Flyweight ruler Naomi Togashi (7-0-1) from Japan, in October of 2010.
Again Sanchez did well, but came up short. Togashi, who had become WBC Champion in only her third fight and was making her fifth defense, won by scores of 97-93, 99-92 and 99-91.
But Sanchez´ time was soon to come, and only three months later she captured the vacant IBF World Light Flyweight title when she out-pointed Katia Gutierrez (11-2).
Unfortunately her first world title-reign would be short, as he lost the title to Jessica Chavez (10-3-2) less than three months on.
But her prime years were yet to come, and on July 23, 2011 she won the vacant WBF World Flyweight title when she scored a rare stoppage over Carlota Santos (5-2-3) from Panama on home turf in Guadalajara.
Sanchez had developed into a fan-favorite, and her world championship fights were fought in front of big crowds and televised throughout Mexico with excellent viewing figures.
Less than three months after winning the WBF World title, she made her first defense against Susana Cruz Perez (9-2), winning widely on points.
Cruz Perez would make a name for herself in 2014 when she beat undefeated Anna Sophie Da Costa for the WBF World Strawweight title in France.
Further successful WBF world title-defenses over Waranya Yoohanngoh (7-6), Sharon Gaines (11-13-1) and American multiple former and future world titlist Carina Moreno (22-4) followed.
Sanchez then decided to move down to Light Flyweight, where she lost again to Jessica Chavez (16-3-2) in a WBC Silver title fight.
Back at Flyweight, but with no world title, she scored victories over Tania Cosme (4-3-2), Katia Gutierrez (18-3) again, and Yesenia Catrejon (15-13) in another rematch, but also suffered a disappointing loss to Jazmin Ortega (1-3-1).
After one low-profile comeback victory she won the Interim WBA World Flyweight title with a split decision over Brenda Ramos (9-5) in October of 2017, but lost clearly on points when she faced the full WBA champion Naoko Fujioka in Japan on September 14. 2018.
At the time of writing, Irma Sanchez has not boxed since losing to Fujioka. If that turns out to be her last bout, she retires with a fine record of 30-8-1 (8), having won three versions of a world title.
Married to Hector Garcia, who has promoted many of her fights, she remains active in the boxing gym and recently ran a marathon. Not yet thirty-two, she is certainly not too old to still fight and do well in the ring.
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