Mikaela Lauren (28-4, 13 KOs) says she feels sorry for her opponent Kita Watkins (7-14, 1 KO) after the tough Texan was drafted in as a late replacement for Ewa Piatkowska on Saturday night at the Sporthallen in Sundsvall, Sweden.
The Stockholm fighter was scheduled to challenge for the WBC Female World Super Welterweight title, when with two weeks notice, Piatkowska announced she would be withdrawing from the contest with a back injury.
‘’I was very disappointed when I heard she had pulled out,’’ said Laurén. ‘’I’d had the best training camp of my career, and was ready to take back my title.
‘’I might not be fighting for the World title but I’m happy my hard work is not going to waste. Watkins is a tough fighter with a lot of experience. She’s shared the ring with some tough girls and has only ever been stopped once at the start of her career so she has my respect but I’m very confident I will win.
‘’Honestly, I feel sorry for her. I want to stop Watkins and then I want Piatkowska. She has my belt, and I’m getting it back. Nothing will stop me!’’
Laurén meets Watkins on the undercard of Otto Wallin’s WBA Continental Heavyweight title clash with Gianluca Mandras, which also features fights for Swedish stars Oscar Ahlin, Kennedy Katende, Rocco Wadell and Patricia Berghult, plus Icelandic heavyweight Gunnar Kolbeinn Kristinsson.
Tickets for the Nordic Fight Night are available online via www.biljettforum.se or by calling the ticket hotline on 0771-130 150. All the action will be shown live and exclusive across Scandinavia on Viaplay Fighting. For more information, please visit www.viaplay.se/fighting