(FEB 28)  Last night at the Espace Venise, Sarcelles, Val-d'Oise, France, Anne Sophie Mathis retained the WBF World Super Welterweight title by fighting her opponent, Oxandia Castillo, to a 10-round split draw.

In the WBF Press Release they stated the following:  "In a very exiting and fast-paced fight in front of a packed arena, the reigning champion had problems with the skilled and determined 20-year-old Dominican challenger from the start, and looked hurt by hard shots from Castillo several times in the first three rounds.

But Mathis (37), a three weight world champion, seemed to find her rhythm better from round four on, and started to connect regularly with well-placed body punches, and also found more success in landing her jab and straight right hand.

After a ten round war with skilled boxing and plenty of power-punching, judge Christophe Hembert from France scored the fight dead even at 95-95, but judge Sergio Sotelo (Mexico) had it 96-94 for Mathis, while judge Alexander Plumanns (Germany) saw it as 96-94 for Castillo.

Mathis, making her second title-defense, is now 27-3-1 (23) in a career that started in 1995, while Castillo, a pro for only three years, travels home to Santo Domingo at 13-2-3 (10). Due to the closeness, quality and excitement of the fight, a rematch seems almost inevitable."

Promoter was Abdelila Rahilou and Etoile Verte Production.