(APR 25) Erik Skoglund
continued his unbeaten streak with a heroic performance against
Ryno Liebenberg to claim the IBO International Light Heavyweight
title last night at the Hovet in Stockholm.
Liebenberg had said he would drag Skoglund into a ‘dog fight’
and that is exactly what happened after Skoglund received a
nasty gash above his right eye following a clash of heads in the
sixth-round.
With blood pouring from the cut, the Swedish fighter bravely
fought on to score a unanimous points victory over the dangerous
South African.
‘’That was one of the toughest fights of my career,’’ said
Skoglund. ‘’I was worried the fight would be stopped. There was
a lot of blood. I’m happy that I was able to continue and claim
my twenty-fifth victory. Now, we’re looking at the European
title shot. It would be amazing to fight for the title at home
in Sweden.’’
‘’What a performance from Erik,’’ said promoter Nisse Sauerland.
‘’The fight changed after the cut in the sixth-round, but Erik
showed real class with the way he handled it. Credit to Ryno, he
came to fight, but Erik proved tonight why he is one of the most
exciting fighters in the division.’’
In the co-featured main event,
WBC Female World Super Welterweight Champion Mikaela Lauren
retained her title with a devastating third-round TKO victory
over former World Champion Ivana Habazin.
From the opening bell, Lauren, who had demanded number boys for
her title defence, unleashed a relentless attack on Habazin. The
Croatian looked in trouble from the first-round and was saved
from further punishment by the referee in round three.
‘’It felt amazing to defend my title in front of my home fans at
the Hovet,’’ said Lauren. ‘’I said I wanted to make a statement
by stopping her, and I did!’’
Habazin was accompanied into the ring by Lauren’s domestic rival
Klara Svensson, who had scored a unanimous points victory over
Lucia Morelli earlier in the night.
Svensson had criticised Lauren for pouring water on Habazin’s
head at the weigh-in and chose to make a public stand against
Lauren.
‘’I don’t agree with what Mikaela did,’’ said Svensson. ‘’It was
embarrassing. How long are people going to let her get away with
things like that? I would love to fight her!’’
Svensson's appearance did not go unnoticed by Lauren, who called
her out after the fight.
‘’Klara is next,’’ she said. ‘’I don’t like her. She is going
down like Habazin, and after I’m finished with her, I want
Cecilia Brækhus!’’
On the undercard heavyweight talent Otto Wallin scored a
second-round knockout win over Irineu Beato Costa Jr, Patrick
Mendy upset local fighter Oscar Ahlin, Patricia Berghult
outpointed Katarina Vistica, Daniel Hartvig drew with Nikoloz
Gvajava and Angelique Hernandez loss to Karina Kopinska.