In what was more than likely (and hopefully) the final bout of her career, defending WBC super featherweight champion Frida Wallberg (11-1, 2 KO’s) was stopped in the eighth round by Los Angeles based Australian Diana Prazak (12-2, 8 KO’s) in Stockholm, Sweden on Friday night. As reported earlier by The Boxing Tribune HERE, the bout had life threatening consequences for Wallberg, who was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery for a subdural hematoma following the bout. As of this writing, it is said that Wallberg is conscious and doing well, all things considered.
An entertaining bout that saw both fighters land their fair share of blows, Prazak dropped Wallberg, who was ahead on points at the time, twice in the eighth round prompting the stoppage. It was Wallberg’s third defense of the title she won in 2010 when she took a ten round decision over then title holder Olivia Gerula. She successfully defended against Gerula (W 10) in a rematch and Amanda Serrano (W 10) before Friday’s bout.
Frida Wallberg entered the pro ranks in 2004 and went undefeated in six outings, but was inactive for four years before returning in late 2010. After her return she racked up another five wins, winning the WBC title in her third bout back. She entered Friday’s bout undefeated at 11-0 with two stoppage wins.
Diana Prazak came in as the underdog despite an impressive record. After losing her pro debut in 2010, she won 11 straight, stopping seven and picking up the WIBA and PABA super featherweight titles. She also held the Australia light welterweight belt. Prior to her fight against Wallberg, she lost a 10 round decision to Holly Holm in a bid for the IBA and WBF light welterweight belts.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maria Maderna (10-8-3) made good in front of her home crowd, defeating Enis Pacheco (10-2-2, 7 KO’s) over 10 rounds and winning the WBO lightweight title. Pacheco won the vacant title in 2012 defeating Duda Yankovich over 10 rounds. Since winning the belt she successfully defended against Ana Esteche and came into this bout off back to back draws with Ana Esteche in a rematch and Lely Florez. Her only other defeat came against Fernanda Alegre in 2011.
Maderna had a rough start to her professional career, going 4-7-3 in 2008 and 2009 before turning things around. From 2010-2012 she went undefeated at 5-0-1 and won the Argentina lightweight title before losing a 10 round decision to IBF super featherweight champion, Claudia Lopez last October. This was her first bout following that loss.
Mexico’s Maria Salinas (10-3-1, 4 KO’s) worked her way to a comfortable 10 round decision over Dorely Valente (8-1-2), dealing Valente her first professional loss and winning the WBC youth super flyweight title. It was quite the feat for Salinas, a former WBC youth minimum-weight titlist, who was coming off back to back losses and hadn’t fought in well over a year. Valente, who won the title last August, was coming in off a 10 round draw with Mayela Perez in February.
Undefeated WBC lightweight champion Erica Farias (17-0, 9 KO’s) kept the action going in Buenos Aires, taking a 10 round shut out decision over former WBC Asian and OPBF super featherweight belt holder Chika Mizutani (14-4, 7 KO’s). Farias has now made six successful defenses of the title, 10 straight including her interim status. She’s held a world title since May of 2010 when she knocked out Darys Pardo in the eighth round for the interim title, and just over a year later she scored a technical decision over Ann Saccurato to gain full championship status. For Mizutani, the loss snaps a five bout (four knockouts) win streak. Scores were 100-89 across the board for Farias.
Simona Galassi picked up a regional title in Italy. Galassi (19-2-1, 4 KO’s) won a 10 round decision over Sanae Jah (8-2, 2 KO’s) in Emilia Romagna to win the vacant EBU flyweight title. This was Galassi’s second successful outing since being stopped in three rounds by Renata Szebeledi, a loss that cost her the world flyweight championship. Jah, the former Belgium and WBC international flyweight title holder has now lost two of her last three bouts. In January she dropped 10 round decision in Germany to WBA flyweight champ Susi Kentikian. Prior to this year, Jah was 7-0 after turning pro in early 2011.
No title on the line, but WBC silver light welterweight champion Klara Svensson (10-0, 4 KO’s) remained undefeated, stopping Irene Gambrah (1-2) in the fifth round in Germany. This was her fourth bout of the year; her last three opponent’s records totaled 2-4. Just sayin’.
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