Peru Mums Celebrate with Punches

This Mother’s Day, a group of women in the Peruvian city of Huancayo decided against the usual flowers and sweets, and instead spent the afternoon punching each other to the ground. Slipping on gloves and protective headgear, these mums took part in a boxing event put together by local sports promoters.  

Huancayo sits at 10,500 feet (3,200 meters) above sea level, in the Peruvian highlands. Organizers set up a makeshift boxing ring for the event. The women who participated were all clad in “polleras” – traditional colorful, embroidered skirts typical of the region. 

The event was a big success. About 200 spectators showed up to Reports say that some women were knocked to the ground by especially powerful blows, but quickly got back up to resume the festivities. While it is legal to bet on sports in Peru, it is not known if any of the mothers or the spectators put money down on the event.  

Boxing is big in Peru, and the mothers that took part in the Mother’s Day boxing event were inspired by the success of Peru’s female boxing champ Kina “Dinamite” Malpartida, who is the current holder of the WBA Female Super Featherweight title. Malpartida went up against British challenger Lindsey Scragg last December. Online sportsbooks in Peru gave Malpartida strong odds after she scored a surprise TKO in the tenth against previously unbeaten Maureen Shea last February.  

While most offline sports betting in Peru is controlled by the country’s official bookmaker Lima Uno SAC, internet betting sites are becoming more widely available with every passing year. There are quite a few online sportsbooks that offer Spanish-language services, and a few even accept bets in Peruvian Nuevo Sol. Whether it’s the next round that sees Malpartida defend her title, or an upcoming soccer match against the local rivals, punters can easily place their wagers online.