DINA THORSLUND DOMINATES YULIHAN LUNA AVILA, BECOMES 3-WORLD TITLEHOLDER
Her-story in Holstebro: Thorslund defies Luna in world title unification clash.
Irrepressible Danish superstar Dina Thorslund put on her most dominant form so far as she outclassed Mexican great Yuliahn Luna Avila for a unanimous decision victory in their epic world title unification showdown on Friday night September 1st in Holstebro, Denmark.
Egged on by her throngs of supporters inside the Graakjaer Arena, Thorslund came out strong right from the opening bell, taking the fight into the slightly taller Luna and never letting up on her attacks which turned what was expected a tight battle into a one-sided affair.
All three judges scored the 10-round title fight—99-91, 98-92, 97-93—in favour of Thorslund, who successfully defended her World Boxing Organization (WBO) world bantamweight crown for the fourth straight time.
In addition, Thorslund took the World Boxing Council (WBC) world bantamweight title away from Luna and claimed the vacant Ring Magazine diadem in the main event of the big fight night co-promoted by Disrupt Promotions and TK Promotion.
“I want to be the best so I have to beat the best,” said Thorslund, who stretched her unbeaten record to 20 fights, highlighted by eight knockouts. “She (Luna) gave her all and I thanked her for this amazing fight. This is what real boxers want—tough fights.”
Thorslund’s marvellous performance served as a fitting ending on a magical night for Danish crowd, with four other homegrown talents getting the job done in style.
Conceicao, Cairns continue to impress with massive TKO victories.
Meanwhile, Brazilian ace Hebert Conceicao hardly showed any rust from a nine-month layoff as he overwhelmed Polish foe Robert Talarek, finishing him off with a cracking shot to the body midway through the second round.
“I feel very good making a successful comeback after nine months,” said Conceicao, the Tokyo Olympics gold medal winner who notched his third TKO win and fifth overall in as many pro fights. “I’m evolving and I’m still learning, but most importantly I’m winning.”
Fast-rising Irish super-lightweight Steven Cairns sustained his dominant form, battering Polish foe Marian Wesolowski with one heavy shot after another in the corner, leaving the referee with no recourse but to stop the fight some 50 seconds into Round 2.
“I feel amazing. I want destruction every time I step into the ring and that’s what I did,” said the Cork-born Cairns, dubbed as ‘The Irish Takeover,’ who extended his unbeaten record to 7-0, highlighted by four knockout wins.
Hometown favourite, super-middleweight Jacob Bank, made another strong statement with a second-round stoppage of Montenegro’s Almir Skrijelj.
Bank initially sent his foe down on the canvas with a solid uppercut then followed it up with a wicked body shot, leading to his sixth TKO victory and 11th overall in as many fights.
Promising Danish teenager Mikkel Gribsholt delivered the opening fireworks for the hometown crowd by stopping Georgia’s Bacho Jintcharadze at the 2:30 mark of the fourth round with a staggering right straight. It’s the second consecutive TKO victory in as many fights for the 19-year-old Gribsholt.
Another Danish prospect, Nesar Kunduzi, notched his second straight victory by overcoming an equally tough Georgian Davit Shervashidze via a unanimous decision.
Not to be outdone was Payman Akbari, who got all three judges’ nod for a unanimous decision win over Italian Pietro Caputo in a bruising lightweight encounter. The 22-year-old Akbari improved his win-loss-draw record to 8-1-2, with a lone TKO victory.
In the other women’s fight, a relentless Brook Eaton of Romford, United Kingdom made a solid pro debut by scoring a unanimous decision win against Czech counterpart Ester Konecna in their super-middleweight clash.
“I’ve waited such a long time for this, and I’m happy that I was able to get this through,” said Eaton. “I’m looking forward to getting another fight as much as possible before the year ends, and hopefully I can get a chance to fight back home.”
FIGHT RESULTS
Dina Thorslund beat Yuliahn Luna Avila – Unanimous Decision
Jacob Bank beat Almir Skrijelj – TKO (R2, 1:29)
Hebert Conceicao beat Robert Talarek – TKO (R2, 1:23)
Brook Eaton beat Ester Konecna – Unanimous Decision
Payman Akbari beat Pietro Caputo – Unanimous Decision
Steven Cairns beat Marian Wesolowski – TKO (R2, 2:10)
Nesar Kunduzi beat Davit Shervashidze – Unanimous Decision
Mikkel Gribsholt beat Bacho Jintcharadze – TKO (R4, 0:30)
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