(APR 29)
Amira Hamzaoui is still the Unified Women's World Flyweight
Champion after successfully defending her crown on Saturday
night, April 25, at the Hall des sports Pierre Gaspard in her
hometown of Epernay, France, defeating challenger Alexandra
Vlajk from Hungary.
Having won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) World title last
October with a victory over Raja Amasheh, Hamzaoui is the first
boxer to defend a Unified Womens World Title, after the WBF
launched its cooperation with the WIBF and GBU last month and
merged the three championships into the most prestigious title
in female boxing.
On a show promoted by the Epernay Boxing Club, Hamzaoui and
Vlajk both decided to have a punch-up from the start, and traded
on even terms in most rounds, which made for an entertaining
scrap.
However, Hamzaoui came out of most exchanges a little bit better
than the challenger and was the better boxer over-all, but Vlajk
always came back strong, wanting to throw bombs even when
momentarily stunned, and must be praised for a very spirited and
ambitious effort.
After ten well-fought rounds, judges Jean-Marcel Nartz,
Christophe Hembert and Arnold Golger scored the fight
unanimously for the defending champion: 97-93, 98-92 and 99-91.
Referee in charge of the action was Smail Alitouche.
29-year-old Southpaw Hamzaoui improved her professional record
to 12-1 (5), while Vlajk (35) lost for only the second time in
the paid ranks and drops to 7-2 (2).
Also on Saturday night, in Dettenheim, Germany, Melanie Zwecker
captured the vacant WBF Womens Intercontinental Featherweight
title, with a victory over experienced co-challenger Diana
Garcia from the Dominican Republic.
In front of a sold-out crowd of 1500 fans at the Pfinzhalle,
local hero Zwecker controlled the bout with clean, long jabs,
while Garcia tried to take over by being aggressive and
attempting to land big shots. Technical boxing prevailed, and in
the end there was no doubt about who was the winner.
Judges Kazim Kurnaz, Dominique Schmit and Uwe Lorch scored it
98-92, 97-94 and 96-94, all in favor of new champion Melanie
Zwecker.
Zwecker, who won her second WBF title after lifting the
International crown less than a year ago at the same venue, is
now 7-0 (3), with one No-Contest, since turning pro in December
2012. Reigning Dominican national Super Featherweight champion
Garcia falls to 13-21 (4).
Promoter was Baden Box Promotion, headed by Michael Siegel.
