Germany-based Italian Lucia
Morelli won the vacant World
Boxing Federation Women’s World
Lightweight title on Saturday
night at the Ratiopharm Arena in
Neu Ulm, Germany, scoring a
close majority decision over
local fan-favorite Rola El
Halabi.
More than 5000 fans showed up to
support and celebrate El Halabi,
who was miraculously returning
to the ring after being shot in
hands, knees and feet by her
estranged stepfather in April
2011, but after an inspired and
admirable performance it was not
enough in the end.
Both fighters started
cautiously, feeling each other
out, but Morelli (18-3, 8 KOs)
may have nicked most of the
early rounds by being more
precise with her punches. Midway
through the bout things got more
heated and the exchanges more
frequent, as both had their
success.
After ten good, close rounds
Morelli was declared the victor
by scores of 96-95, 97-93 and
95-95, but El Halabi must still
be considered a major winner for
defying the odds and coming back
from tragedy to perform at world
class level.
“I congratulate Lucia on the
victory”, said El Halabi after
the fight. “She was just a
little bit better than me, but I
gave it everything I had and it
was not quite enough. I lost the
fight, but I gained so much and
I am happy. I’m back in my
life!”
When asked if she perhaps should
have returned against an easier
opponent, El Halabi, who lost
for the first time as a
professional (11-1, 6 KOs),
didn’t want to offer any excuses
for the defeat, saying:
“I was having a hard time
finding my distance and it took
me two or three rounds too long
to find it, but I didn’t want to
return against an easy opponent.
I wanted to fight someone as
tough as Lucia. I wanted an
honest fight, and I lost
honestly. That’s the way sports
should be!”
El Halabi expressed her
gratitude towards the many fans
in attendance, and promised them
that she would return soon and
eventually become a world
champion again. Both camps
expressed interest in a rematch,
and there is no doubt that the
loyal fans of El Halabi will
turn out again to cheer her on.
Also on Saturday night, at the
Palais des Sports in
Saint-Quentin, France, German
underdog Mounir Toumi survived a
first-round knockdown to capture
the vacant WBF International
Light Heavyweight title with a
split decision over Tony
Averlant.
Toumi, coming off four straight
victories after going 10-11 in
his first twenty-one starts,
showed great willpower to not be
discouraged by the knockdown,
and came back strong to edge the
local man after ten entertaining
rounds of boxing.
The three judges at ringside
scored the bout 95-94, 95-94 for
the visitor and 97-93 for
Averlant. The new champion
improved his deceivingly modest
professional record to 15-11
(5), while Averlant fell to
18-7-2 (4).
The fight was promoted by
Bleu
Ciel Production headed by Pascal
Cordier.
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