(JUNE 3)
Anne Sophie Mathis proved that she is still one of the best
female boxers in the world, when she beat Dominican Yahaira
Hernandez to win the vacant World Boxing Federation World Super
Welterweight title on Saturday night, June 1, at the Salle Roger
Boileau in Dombasle, France.
After two straight losses to Holly Holm, to whom she lost her
WBF World Welterweight title, and Cecilia Braekhus, Mathis
returned at her new weight with clear determination to show her
hometown fans that she is back and on the hunt for a rematch
with Braekhus.
Yahaira Hernandez started the fight fast, and seemed to surprise
Mathis with her aggressiveness. The 25-year-old from Santo
Domingo was probably winning the first round, until Mathis
countered her with a well-timed uppercut to score a knockdown.
From then on the fight was an all-out war with both fighters
throwing bombs and the crowd going wild. Mathis, however, was
the more accurate of the two and thus won the rounds, but
Hernandez fought her heart out in what was a competitive and
brutal bout.
In round three an accidental clash of heads opened a nasty cut
above the right eye of Hernandez, but she was allowed to
continue by referee Toni Tiberi and the ringside doctor. In
round five, as they both continued to slug away, Mathis landed a
massive shot to the liver of Hernandez who turned away in pain.
She couldn’t recover, and Tiberi counted her out at 1:59 of the
round.
With the impressive victory Mathis improved her professional
record to 27-3 (23), and became only the third woman boxer to
win a WBF World title in two weight classes. Hernandez can
travel home to the Dominican Republic proud of her performance,
and with a record that now stands at 14-5 (8).
The fight was promoted by Mathis long-time trainer and manager
René Cordier.
WBAN
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