(AUG 4) Not much more than two
years ago she was in hospital with gunshot wounds in hands,
knees and feet following an attack from her estranged stepfather
just minutes before a world title fight, and no one expected her
to ever lace on the gloves again. Now she is the World Boxing
Federation Women's World Light Welterweight Champion!
The Comeback story of Rola El Halabi continues to grow, and on
Saturday night, August 3, it peaked when she defeated Hungarian
Dalia Vasarhelyi at the Laubach Arena in Laubach, Germany to
lift the WBF World title left vacant when superstar Holly Holm
recently retired.
After ten absorbing rounds, the 28-year-old from Ulm was
deservedly awarded the unanimous decision with scores of 98-91
(Jean-Marcel Nartz), 99-91 (Dominique Schmit) and 99-91
(Alexander Plumanns), but the contest was much more competitive
than the numbers suggest.
Vasarheliy, a 20-year-old philosophy student from Budapest,
proved tough as nails, and when El Halabi really dished it out
in the last three rounds she didn’t buckle where many would
have. It was however clear in the end that the local star was
the better fighter, and the 3500 fans that packed the outdoor
arena gave her excellent support all the way.
El Halabi’s story is well-known in Germany, where she has
published a book about her struggle and appeared on several TV
talk shows, and it was obvious that everyone in attendance was
thrilled to have witnessed what must be considered one of the
most successful comeback stories in boxing history.
With the victory El Halabi improves her professional record to
12-1 (6), while former European title-challenger Vasarhelyi
falls to a very misleading 4-4 (0).
WBAN
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