Skoglund, Lauren Notch Wins in Sweden

Skoglund, Lauren Notch Wins in Sweden – Stockholm, Sweden’s Hovet Arena hosted Sauerland Promotions for an eight fight boxing card that was split evenly with four men’s fights and four fights coming in the women’s divisions.

The main event on the women’s side featured 26-3 WBC World 154 lb champion Mikaela Lauren as she took on the challenge of Croatia’s Ivana Habazin (15-2). Lauren literally made a “splash” at the weigh-ins on Friday when she dumped a bottle of water over her opponent’s head in a sign of disrespect.

Check out The Boxing Channel’s report from the weigh-ins right here.

Lauren also made news earlier in the week when she threatened to pull out of the fight if her request for ring card “boys” for her fight was not met. Though it is unclear whether Lauren would indeed have pulled out, the promoters did not leave things open to chance and her request was granted.

Once it came down to the fight, however, Lauren was all business. Though both women were closer to the 147 lb welterweight limit than 154 lbs, Lauren appeared the bigger and stronger fighter from the outset. Even at the weigh-ins, Habazin had the body language of a beaten fighter, and she just took the humiliation at the hands of Lauren without a response. The match was more of the same as Lauren overwhelmed Habazin on her way to a third round stoppage roughly two minutes into the third. Lauren retains her WBC World title at 154 pounds.

The main event on the men’s side was a 12-round light heavyweight contest between fan favorite Erik Skoglund and South Africa’s Ryno Liebenberg (17-2). The minor, vacant IBO International title was on the line and the 24 year old Skoglund was looking to to add that belt to his growing resume.

The bout was ugly from the start as Liebenberg sustained a cut near his left eye early. Liebenberg however continued to battle as Skoglund gradually tired. The exchanges stayed on the ugly side and during an exchange iin the middle rounds, Skoglund emerged with a gash on his head. The cut was bad enough that the doctor’s checked Skoglund in the eighth, but the bout was allowed to continue.

Both men dug down as the fight entered the championship rounds. Skoglund was showing signs of fatigue, but Leibenberg had little in the way of defense. In round ten things turned ugly again as Liebenberg twice appeared to hit Skoglund while the referee was breaking them, but no warning was issued.

Skoglund seemed to relax the final two rounds, as both tired men did a lot of clinching and hugging in the last six minutes. At the end of a hard fought war of attrition, the judges had it for  Skoglund by unanimous decision.  Skoglund is now 25-0 and the IBO’s International titleholder at Light Heavyweight.

Below are the complete results for the entire eight fight card.

April 23rd, 2016 – Hovet Arena
Stockholm, Sweden

Complete Results:

Lt Hvy 12 RD: Erik Skoglund over Ryno Liebenberg via UD (117-111,117-111,115-113).
Super Welter 10×2 RD: Mikaela Lauren over Ivana Habazin via TKO @1:55 in RD 3.
Super Middle 8 RD: Patrick Mendy over Oscar Ahlin via UD (77-76,78-74,78-75).
Heavyweight 8 RD: Otto Wallin over Irineu Costa Junior by TKO @:35 in RD 3.
Super Light 8×2 RD: Klara Svenson over Lucia Morelli via UD (79-73,79-73,80-72).
Super Welter 4 RD: Nikoloz Gvajava drew with Daniel Hartvig.
Feather 4×2 RD: Karina Kopinska over Angelique Hernandez via UD (39-37,39-37,39-38).
Super Light 4×2 RD: Patricia Berghult over Katarina Vistica via UD (40-36,40-36,40-36).

Check out The Boxing Channel “Lauren Flattens Habazin, Skoglund Outlasts Leibenburg”.