(SEPT 7)  It was in the cards that the challenge of Irma Balijagic Adler could easily be the toughest fight to date for World Boxing Federation (WBF) Women’s World Lightweight Champion Nicole Wesner, and this was exactly the case when they clashed on Sunday night at the Markthalle in Wismar, Germany.

Making her first defense of the title she won last December in her adopted home-country of Austria, Wesner got off to a good start and won the early rounds. At that point she looked the more skilled and focused boxer, and landed more than her game adversary from Bosnia & Herzegovina.

But the theme of the fight was set already in the first stanza, when an unintentional head-clash almost ruled out Adler. In the second it was the other way around, as a terrible clash hurt the nose of Wesner and again almost ended the fight.

The head-clashes continued throughout the fight, and in round seven both boxers were deducted a point by referee Goran Filipovic. At this stage of the bout, the fight had shifted in Adler´s favour and Wesner looked to be in deep water, fighting purely on instinct and will-power to survive.

Adler repeatedly landed big shots, but the champion showed what she is made of by refusing to go down. A few times it looked as if she was only one punch away from a knockout defeat, but Wesner stayed upright and incredibly Adler was herself too tired to land the finisher.

In the end, the early work proved to be enough for Wesner who won a close unanimous decision. Judges Rosario Triolo, Ruben Zaburov and Arnold Golger all had her ahead after ten rounds, scoring the dramatic encounter 95-93, 97-95 and 97-92 for the defending champion.

Wesner improved her undefeated professional record to 11-0 (5), while former Featherweight and Super Featherweight world titlist Adler drops to 15-6 (8). The fight was promoted by Wesner, in cooperation with PSP Boxteam.