She grew up in Tijuana as a fighter.
Thursday night, Kenia “Mexican Queen” Enriquez will continue her quest to accomplish something that no woman has done before: hold championship belts in both boxing and mixed martial arts.
The 31-year-old transitioned to MMA from boxing in March. Thursday’s fight against Hannah Bobryskov (0-1) in Seattle will air on the Combate Global YouTube page and on Samsung TV Plus.
As a boxer, Enriquez went 28-1 with 11 knockouts and won three world championships. She said the move to MMA comes at an ideal time in her career.
“I grew up in a fighting family,” Enriquez said. “My father, my brothers, my cousins all boxed, so it was natural for me to fight. I liked boxing, but (MMA) was something I always wanted to try. Had to learn to kick and that balance. It came naturally. I want to be a champion.”
Her first fight? Enriquez was 6 years old on the playground in Tijuana. Another little girl started a fight. She ended it.
“I guess you could say I was born to fight. It comes natural to me,” she said. “I was born to fight anyone who started something. I want to win for my family. I have no fear.”
Enriquez hired an MMA trainer and has spent months sparring to transition from boxing. There were adjustments to make.
“I am very comfortable boxing, but getting on the ground and wrestling has been new to me,” she said. “I have a great trainer and spent a lot of time working on the ground. Wrestling skills, it’s coming to me fast. I want to get to the ground now, take an opponent down. It’s coming quickly.”
Enriquez earned the WBC interim flyweight championship by decision over Ibeth Zamora Silva in 2023. It was a bloody fight with both boxers leaving the ring with cuts and damage.
“We fought hard,” Enrquez said. “She definitely hurt me, but I hurt her also. That’s fighting. You know you are gonna pay a price.”
She entered MMA this spring and won a unanimous decision over England’s Hayley Valentine in her first bout.
“I have been training hard to adjust from boxing to (MMA),” Enriquez said. “It has been a tough process, but I have good coaches, and I am adapting quickly. I feel that in time, I can be great at this sport. It’s about having the heart of a champion. I have that.”
Ballo ready for pro debut
San Diego’s Julius Ballo makes his professional boxing debut July 26 against Brandon Ayala. The featherweight bout will take place at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.
A two-time Amateur National Champion and Gold Gloves champion, the Granite Hills High School graduate is looking to make a mark.
“I started boxing at 3 years old,” Ballo said. “First amateur fight was at 8 years old. Started traveling and winning tournaments. Becoming my own, pound-for-pound best boxer in San Diego. I am going to be a champion. My goal is to bring a belt back to San Diego.”
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