(NOV 23) “The cold and heavy rain – typical English Winter weather did not seem to daunt the 2,000 boxing fans who turned up last Sunday afternoon 18th November 07 to the Tooting Leisure Centre in South West London, England. 

LAURA SAPERSTEIN was making her professional boxing debut after an unbeaten 10 bout amateur career . She was the England Amateur Boxing Association Womens’  2005  Lightweight Champion.   

Born in Australia, Laura (31) now lives in England. She is a former $150,000 a year mergers and acquisitions lawyer with the Leading London solicitors,  Freshfields.   She has given this up to become a professional boxer  ( and  in her “spare time” a property developer)  

Her opponent was Bulgarian light welterweight BORISLAVA GORANOVA  (29) from Sofia,  a veteran of 24 professional fights , of which she had won 3 and lost 21.  Borislava  is no stranger to Britain having fought JANE COUCH (Bristol)  four times and SARA DAVIES (Nottingham) ( another lawyer) once. 

The  women’s bout featured 4th  on this Bruce Baker’s promotion for the Professional Boxing Promoters Association.  

 Bruce deserves  great credit as one of the few British Promoters willing to support womens’ professional boxing, and stage their contests. 

 First into the ring, almost unnoticed,  was Goranova, an attractive 5 ft 6 inch lady with unruly black hair.  She was clad in a black sports bra trimmed with red with a short red skirt over black shorts.

Saperstein’s entrance was far more dramatic as she ran purposely into the hall shrouded in a white hooded gown trimmed in red.  Her supporters cheered her entrance.   Disrobing she revealed a pretty 5ft 6inch brunette in white sports bra and white shorts with red side flashings and embroidered  round her midriff  “BOXERGIRL”.  

 The Announcer announced that the fight was over 4 x 2 minute rounds and that at the Weigh In Goranova  weighed 10 stone and  Saperstein  weighed 10 stone 2lbs.      

Round 1

From the bell Saperstein launched a vigorous attack on her opponent  with  a feinting straight left to the face followed by a straight right to the body.   The fighters went into the first of many clinches in this fight.  Saperstein renewed her attack with left and right combinations, a tactic she used throughout the contest.          

Saperstein threw many punches but many failed because Goranova backed off, ducked or took them on her gloves.
Goranova countered with her straight lefts.

She got Saperstein’s head trapped in a clinch and the referee temporarily stopped the boxing to separate them

Nearing the round’s end Saperstein threw a savage right hook which did connected on Goranova’s head with such a “crack” that the crowd gasped. Sensing a possible victory Saperstein chased Goranova round the ring throwing a flurry of left and right handed punches to head and body. Unfortunately, at least one of these was illegal - for which she received a warning from the referee.

This brief interlude allowed Goranova to recover. Saperstein sprang forward in attack and they clashed in another long fighting clinch as the round ended.

Round 2

The fight developed into a pattern.

Saperstein launched a series of attacks constantly throwing straight left and right hook combinations alternating between head and body. Goranova responded by ducking the right hooks and countering with her left.

Round 3

Saperstein again took the fight to her opponent. Another series of clashes ensued. Goranova counterpunched landing a good straight left on Saperstein’s nose.

Goranova temporarily managed to get Saperstein trapped in the red corner and against the adjacent ropes. A pushing match followed with Goranova pushing Saperstein across the ring to the opposite ropes before Saperstein was able to fight free.

The round ended in yet another clinch with the fighters exchanging punches.

Round 4

Coming out for the final round Goranova seemed a bit more aggressive. She launched her own attack. Saperstein quickly took command again with some effective right hooks to her opponent’s face. Goranova gamely fought back.

She held Saperstein with her left arm whilst repeatedly clubbing her round the back of the head with her right. The referee warned Goranova.

Near the end of this round the fight stopped momentarily after Goranova received an accidental punch in the groin during one of the many brief exchanges of blows.

The round ended in yet another clinch with both fighter slugging it out in the centre of the ring.

At the bell the referee immediately raised Saperstein’s arm as the winner – to spirited applause.

Saperstein moves to 1-0-0, and Goranova to 3-22-0.

Summary

This was a scrappy fight . A series of short exchanges with a large number of clinches which resembled a rugby scrum where each fighter leant on the other - trying to push her opponent backwards.

Although skillful in ringcraft, Goranova never looked dangerous - boxing in a defensive style and giving ineffective punches, lacking in power. Saperstein always was the more aggressive.

This was an easy entry to professional boxing for a woman of Saperstein’s undoubted talents.

We look forward to her next contest against a more aggressive fighter! “

Copyright John E.G.Wilson.