(APR 19)  Swedish boxer Mikaela Lauren has said she will refuse to fight on Saturday night unless her promoter replaces the ‘sexist’ number girls with a male equivalent.

Lauren is scheduled to defend her WBC Female World Super Welterweight title against former IBF World Champion Ivana Habazin as part of a blockbuster bill at the Hovet in Stockholm.

‘’I’ve spoken to my promoter and told him that I will not fight if they use number girls,’’ said Lauren. ‘’Why should there be a half naked woman in the ring when two top female athletes are competing? I think it’s sexist. Women shouldn’t be seen as sex objects!’’

Instead, Lauren is insisting that she is provided with a number boy. ‘’I want a number boy,’’ she says. ‘’I think that’s only fair, and I’m sure it will be give the women in the audience some pleasure as well.’’

Promoter Nisse Sauerland says he is willing to meet Lauren’s demands and the hunt is now on for a number boy. ‘’I respect Mikaela’s opinion,’’ said Sauerland. ‘’It is not something we had anticipated, however, we will now endeavor to find a number boy for her World title defence.’’

Saturday’s show signals a return of big-time boxing to the Swedish capital. Alongside Lauren’s World title defence, Erik Skoglund faces Ryno Liebenberg in a tough twelve-round test, Klara Svensson rematches Lucia Morelli, the ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar Ahlin faces the ‘Tiger’ Patrick Mendy and Otto Wallin takes on the big punching Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior.

Tickets for the Nordic Fight Night on April 23 at the Hovet in Stockholm are available online via www.globearenas.se and www.AXS.com, by calling (+46) 0771-31 00 00 and from the Stockholm Globe Arenas Box Office.