(SEPT 3) World Boxing Federation
Women's World Light Welterweight Champion Rola El Halabi, 12-1
(6), will make a quick return to the ring after winning the WBF
title this past August.
Not much more than a month later she will make her first
defense, promoted by DOG Eventboxing, when she takes on
undefeated Georgian Sopo Putkaradze, 6-0-2 (1), on September 7.
The fight will be one of no less than four WBF title fights on
the big Champions Boxing Night at the Saarlandhalle in
Saarbruecken, Germany, as part of the World Boxing Federation
World Convention taking place between September 5 and 8.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon but raised in Germany where she has
fought all her professional bouts, El Halabi (28) currently
resides in the city of Ulm.
She defeated Hungary’s former European title-challenger Dalia
Vasarheliy by wide unanimous decision to capture the world title
on August 3 in Laubach, and is wasting no time in capitalizing
on the victory.
While a clear favorite going in, the reigning champion will face
an interesting challenge in Putkaradze, a 20-year-old promising
prospect from Tbilisi who has announced that she is coming to
defeat El Halabi in style.
Putkaradze made her professional debut in November 2011 and won
her first four bouts convincingly before two draws against
domestic rival Mari Tatunashvili in the spring and summer of
last year.
Since then she has won two fights, and is coming off a sixth
round stoppage of compatriot Tamuna Salukvadze one month ago.
It remains to be seen if experience of youth will prevail, but
both champion and challenger are reportedly in the best shape of
their lives ahead of the big night.