Elif Nur Turhan unbothered by award snub: ‘Next year will be different’

Dave Thompson / Matchroom Boxing

IBF women's lightweight titleholder Elif Nur Turhan at a press conference on January 29, 2026 ahead of her fight with Taylah Gentzen

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By Tom Ivers

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Elif Nur Turhan had an incredible breakout year in 2025. It started with an impressive first round finish of Shauna Browne in March, followed by a six-round dismantling of Rima Ayadi in May. The year was then topped off with a vicious fifth round finish of Beatriz Ferreira to lift the IBF lightweight title in Monaco. The three stoppage victories that culminated in Turhan claiming her first world title in just 12 fights and was enough to earn her Fighter of the Year from several boxing outlets – including BoxingScene – but The Ring didn’t nominate Turhan for the award.

“If that’s how they saw it, that’s how they saw it,” Turhan told BoxingScene through a translator. “I’m going to keep going forward and do everything I can. This next year I think it’s probably going to be different.”

Turhan will defend her IBF strap for the first time this Saturday when she takes on Taylah Gentzen in Newcastle, England. Being champion won't change her mentality.

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“I’ve always fought as though I’m fighting for a world title so this is no different,” Turhan said. “[Winning the belt] made us very happy. It's what we've worked for, what we've done everything for, to get a title. Now we've got it, we want to carry on.”

Turhan’s attention following an expected win on Saturday will then turn to her fellow champions.

“I want whoever is necessary to win all the belts,” she said. “I’ll take them on. I’m here to be the best woman in the world and nothing is going to change that. I’m getting ready to take on everyone for all the belts.”