NEWCASTLE, England – Elif Nur Turhan successfully defended her IBF lightweight strap with a 10-round split decision victory over Taylah Gentzen at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.
Australia’s Gentzen frustrated Turhan, now 13-0 (8 KOs), throughout the contest, keeping away from Turhan’s wild punches and tying her up. There was little landed from both women, but Turhan was physical and aggressive, and that ultimately saw her edge the fight. The judges scored the contest 97-93 in favour of Gentzen, and 98-92, 96-94 to Turhan.
Gentzen, 35, started on the back foot, circling Turhan as she came in to land recklessly. Gentzen had the better of the opening exchanges, countering with her jab as Turhan came in wildly. Turhan, 30, pushed forwards, but Gentzen was able to tie her up whenever she finally backed Gentzen onto the ropes. Turkey’s Turhan was visibly frustrated with her opponent’s tactics, but did start to make a dent midway through the fifth with a looping right hand.
Turhan continued to be physical with Gentzen, wrestling with her in the clinches and bundling over her foe in the seventh. Turhan landed the best shot of the fight in the eighth, nailing Gentzen with a right hand as she came into land. Turhan was rough with the Australian in the ninth, but was now starting to find the target, and planted another right hand into Gentzen’s face. The final round was again scrappy, but Turhan had the better of it with a late left hook that caught the judges’ eye. The Turk will be disappointed with her showing, but after three frightening knockouts last year, her performance may tempt her fellow champions into the ring. Gentzen falls to 8-2 (3 KOs) with the defeat.
Before then, rising heavyweight Leo Atang, now 4-0 (4 KOs), continued his impressive start to his professional career against Belgium’s Amine Boucetta, 9-18. The 19 year old, who prior to the contest was yet to get out of the first round, had stopped each of his three opponents in the opener. There was no fast start from Atang on this occasion, the youngster took his time, allowing Boucetta, 33, to circle the ring before planting a jab into his opponent's face. Atang targeted the body throughout, winding Boucetta in the opener. Again Atang took his time in the second, but in the third he sprang to life. Atang pounced on Boucetta, firing in a right hand to the midsection as he lay on the ropes. Boucetta went down in a heap and stayed there for the referee Neil Close’s full 10-count. The time of the stoppage was 0:39 of Round 3.
