Elif Nur Turhan will make her first title defence in Newcastle, England

Elif Nur Turhan will make the first defence of her IBF lightweight title on January 31 in Newcastle, England, it was announced today.

Known as the ‘Golden Turk’, Nur Turhan, 12-0 (8 KOs), will fight Australia’s Taylah Gentzen, 8-1 (3 KOs), at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on a card headlined by Bakhram Murtazaliev’s IBF super-welterweight title defence against Josh Kelly. In addition to that, she has signed a multi-fight extension with Matchroom Boxing, whose chairman, Eddie Hearn, is clearly excited by Nur Turhan’s progress and potential.

“Elif is the hardest female puncher, pound-for-pound, no question,” Hearn said. “In fact, she is one of the fiercest fighters on the planet today.

“I’m thrilled to have signed Elif to a new deal with Matchroom because there are many huge nights waiting for her. I think a fight with WBC world champion Caroline Dubois is one of the best bouts you can make in boxing.”

Last month Nur Turhan solidified her reputation as one of the ‘fiercest fighters on the planet today’ when she captured the IBF lightweight title in Monte-Carlo with an impressive fifth-round stoppage of unbeaten Brazilian Beatriz Ferreira.