Female Bombers Dina Thorslund and Elif Nur Turhan Return to Action This Saturday in England and Denmark and Other News
By David A. Avila
Two-division champ Dina Thorslund returns and the “Turkish Hammer” Elif Nur Turhan defends a lightweight championship this weekend in Europe. Both are known for their head bashing styles.
Let’s start with Denmark’s Thorslund.
It’s been more than a year since the blonde Danish fighter entered the boxing ring. Thorslund (23-0. 9 Kos) returns to face Spain’s Almudena Alvarez (7-3) on Saturday Jan. 31, at Sydbank Arena in Kolding Denmark. DAZN will stream the regional title match.
Thorslund was on the verge of fighting on the blockbuster card that featured Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor but was forced to resign due to pregnancy. Though she held three of the four bantamweight belts, Thorslund abdicated the titles so that others could take her spot.
It was a generous move by the Danish fighter.
Since that time Australia’s Cherneka Johnson has become the undisputed bantam world champion. And Thorslund will be moving up to featherweight for this match against 43-year-old Alvarez.
She needs to start somewhere and it begins on Saturday for the battering fists of Thorslund. Just what kind of fighter remains is the question. She has always had speed, strength and stamina. The power, though not the one-punch variety, emanated from her machine gun fire that overwhelmed opponents. Can she still deliver the knockouts?
Alvarez, 43, started boxing professionally barely three and a half years ago. Can she offer resistance against the Blonde fury?
Across the North Sea in the city of Newcastle, England another bomber returns to action as Tukey’s ferocious Elif Nur Turhan re-enters the boxing ring.
It was a mere month ago that the “Turkish Hammer” challenged Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira for the IBF lightweight world title in Monaco. Many overlooked the match because the Brazilian fighter had massacred everyone she faced up until that night. Before the match Ferreira had been asked about Nur Turhan’s power and she scoffed at the notion of being intimidated. Nur Turhan was careful at first but once tasting the Brazilian’s power she unloaded and delivered Ferreira to the floor twice in the opening round with wind up round house rights that hammered the Brazilian down. She survived for three more rounds and then was caught with a sidewinder left hook that snapped her head around like the girl in the Exorcist movie. Twenty blinding punches later the fight was waved off.
Nur Turhan (12-0, 8 Kos) takes her lethal hands to United Kingdom where she meets Australia’s Taylah Gentzen (8-1, 3 Kos) in defense of the IBF lightweight title at Newcastle Arena on Saturday Jan. 31. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
This is Nur Turhan’s second fight on British soil. She first fought Shauna Browne nearly a year ago and knocked her out in one round with one lethal left hook. Since that moment the women’s fight world was on notice that the Turkish fighter possessed heavy hands.
Gentzen is no shrinking violet. Her only loss was to Shauna Browne by split decision after 10 rounds. It’s a solid test between the two non-British fighters. Each has power. This fight is all about who can take who’s power better.
The female fight world will be watching.
More Fight News
Argentina
On Saturday Jan. 31, super feathers Florencia Escalante (3-0) and Eliana Orecchia (5-17-4) meet six rounds at Buenos Aires. Also, super welters Selene Olguin (0-0) and Yoana Rodriguez (0-0) meet four.
China
Quiyan Lu (4-0) defeated Phannaluk Kongsang (18-16-1) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Jan. 24. The super bantam fight took place in Dalian.
Colombia
On Saturday Jan. 31, welters Katerin Tobon (8-4-1) and Angelica Araujo (2-4-1) meet six rounds at Santa Marta.
Denmark
On Saturday Jan. 31, feathers Dina Thorslund (23-0) and Almudena Alvarez (7-3) meet 10 rounds for an interim featherweight title at Kolding. Also, super bantams Melissa Mortensen (8-0) and Tori-Ellis Willetts 7-1) meet eight.
Hungary
On Saturday Jan. 31, feathers Beata Dudek (6-8) and Gabriella Mezei (11-37-5) meet four rounds at Eger.
Kenya
On Thursday Jan. 29, lightweights Alice Waiyego (0-0) and Winnie Sishiali (0-0) meet four rounds at Nairobi.
Nigeria
On Saturday Jan. 31, feathers Nene Joy Ojo (4-0) and Shodipo Bukola (0-3) meet four rounds at Osogbo.
South Africa
On Saturday Jan. 31, minimumweights Sinalo Mtolo (1-1-1) and Namhla Mankayi (3-3) meet four rounds at Mthatha.
South Korea
Su Been Kim (1-0) beat Ha Eun Park (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Jan. 25. The flyweight fight was held in Incheon.
Tanzania
On Saturday Jan. 31, lightweights Feriche Mashaury (12-9-1) and Hawa Newton (3-1-1) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Sumalee Bunchoo (3-1) defeated Muthita Iamsaard (10-4) after six rounds on Sunday Jan. 25. The minimumweight fight took place in Pathum Thani. Also, bantam Kanokwan Wirunpat (7-5) knocked out Pawina Khwanrueang (0-2) in two; middle Amanpreet Kaur (3-0) beat Sirawan Wadsunggnoen (0-1) in four; minimum Saowarak Phaesithong (1-1) beat Saengdaw Charam (0-7) after four; light fly Harleen Kaur (1-0) knocked out Siriporn Chuduang (0-4) in one; and flyweight Apek Buddee (4-1) knocked out Supansa Thompud (0-3) in three.
Yanyu Li (6-5-2) knocked out Thunwarat Janse (0-2) in four on Sunday Jan. 25. The featherweight fight took place in Thanyaburi.
On Thursday Jan. 29, atomweights Abida Batool (4-1-1) and Wisuta Sririttidet (10-8) meet eight rounds at Bangkok. Also, minimums Fajar Fatima (4-0) and Pompimon Pongpaew (6-7) meet six; and feathers Laura Akhram (1-0) and Somwang Sawinchai (6-18-2) meet six.
On Sunday Feb. 1, lightweights Nutnicha Kaewchin (8-1-1) and Tararat Phomvichai (0-1) meet six rounds at Samut Prakan. Also, Duangjai SaeJiam (1-1) and Wassana Kamdee (11-11) meet six rounds.
United Kingdom
On Saturday Jan. 31, bantams Francesca Hennessey (7-0) and Ellie Bouttell (7-0-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Hackney Wick.
On Saturday Jan. 31, lightweights Elif Nur Turhan (12-0) and Taylah Gentzen (8-1) meet 10 rounds for the IBF world title at Newcastle. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.
USA
Celene Roman (7-4-1) won by majority decision after six rounds versus Elvina White (6-2) on Saturday Jan. 24. The super feather fight took place in Commerce, Calif.
On Friday Jan. 30, bantams Perla Bazaldua (3-0-1) and Isis Sio (1-1) meet six rounds at Long Beach, Calif. Also, welters Brianda Cruz (3-0) and Claudia Herrera (5-4-1) meet six three-minute rounds.
On Friday Jan. 30, super feathers Stephanie Calderon (0-1) and Myasia Oglesby (0-9) meet four rounds at Memphis, Tenn.
On Saturday Jan. 31, flyweights Leanna Martinez (4-5) and Tarrethia Dixon (2-7) meet four rounds at Owingeh, New Mexico.
On Saturday Jan 31, lightweights Nygeela Eleyae (0-0) and Jasmine Adams (0-0) meet four rounds at San Antonio, Texas.
Zambia
On Saturday Jan. 31, bantams Gracious Malembeka (1-0) and Loveness Kokha (3-9-1) meet six rounds at Lusaka. Also, flies Charity Phiri (0-0) and Mphatso Metaudzu (1-8) meet four.