Croatian Ivana Habazin wins WBC world boxing title

by croatiaweek
April 21, 2024
in Sport

Ivana Habazin, Croatia’s top female boxer, secured victory against Kinga Magyar to claim the WBC world title and the interim WBA world title in the welterweight category (up to 66.7 kg).

Judges scored the match 99-92, 97-93, 98-92 in favor of the Croatian boxer.

“This WBC belt, it’s like I’ve been trying to win it for a whole century! I still need the WBO; Eddie Hearn has it, I hope it opens up now, financially, so I can do the preparations. Now my goal is IBF and WBO. Now I’ll eat well and rest. In about ten days, you’ll know the next opponent,” Ivana said after the fight.

Ivana was supposed to fight American boxer Jessica McCaskill, welterweight champion in WBC, WBA, IBO, and The Ring versions, but the American declined and accepted a match against Lauren Price instead.

Price, a British boxer, will challenge for the WBA, IBO, and The Ring belts, while McCaskill had to relinquish the WBC belt won by the Croatian boxer.

Support for Ivana poured in from the start, and Vlado Božić, Ivana Habazin’s coach, immediately advised her not to rush. She did well at the beginning, and Magyar proved to be a tough opponent. As the match progressed, Ivana’s right hand worked well, and Magyar struggled to withstand the blows. In the third round, Magyar responded well with counters. The fourth round was more even, but Ivana finished strong.

Then, in the fifth round, Ivana unleashed and showed that the belts from Cibona were coming home with her. In the sixth round, Magyar landed some good hits, but Ivana rallied in the last minute and finished strong. A short right hook shook Magyar in the seventh round, but she recovered well, and Habazin sought distance. Magyar started well in the eighth round, landing several good right straights and body shots, likely winning the round.

Both boxers were tired in the ninth round, but Habazin seemed to work better. In the penultimate round, Ivana waited patiently, then landed a left hook a minute before the end, and in the last 10 seconds, they exchanged blows in the middle of the ring until the bell.

It took some time for the judges to count the cards, but in the end, the Croatian boxer convincingly celebrated victory. After the match, she thanked Biserka Petrović for giving her the jersey that Dražen wore in 1992 against the Dream Team, and she gave her a rosary blessed by Pope Francis.