(FEB 17)  Super Welterweight Anne Sophie Mathis, will make her second defense of the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Womens World title on February 27 at the Espace Venice in Sarcelles, France, when she takes on former world champion Oxandia Castillo from the Dominican Republic.

Mathis, 27-3 (23), won the WBF world title in June of 2013 by stopping another Dominican, Yahaira Hernandez, and retained it last July when a fight against WBF World Middleweight Champion Christina Hammer was ruled a No-Contest.

In Castillo, 13-2-2 (10), she will be facing a much younger top-contender (20 years old compared to 37 for Mathis), who won the WBO World title in 2013 by stopping undefeated reigning champion Hanna Gabriel in two rounds in Costa Rica.

Castillo relinquished the WBO title when she moved down in weight to unsuccessfully challenge unified world welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekhus, and later former WBF world champion Noni Tenge, but has since rebounded with a first-round victory on home soil, and is now ready for another crack at world glory.

While the challenger has impressive credentials and experience at a very young age, Mathis must be considered a favorite, having won eight world titles in three weigh classes and faced superior competition since turning professional in 1995.

Besides an early loss to Marischa Sjauw in her second pro outing, Mathis has only lost to top pound-for-pound boxers Braakhus and Holly Holm on points, but defeated big names such as Holm, Nathalie Toro, Myriam Lamare (twice), Jane Couch, Ana Pascal and Cindy Serrano.

The Anne Sophie Mathis vs. Oxandia Castillo WBF World Super Welterweight title fight, and full supporting undercard, will be promoted by Abdelila Rahilou and his Etoile Verte Production.