The standout female fighter of 2025 is set to return to action, as Matchroom confirmed that Elif Nur Turhan will defend her IBF lightweight championship against Taylah Gentzen on the undercard of the January 31st Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly event.
Turhan (12-0, 8 KO) had a relatively unremarkable tenure on the European circuit prior to her stunning victory over undefeated Shauna Browne just 47 seconds into their bout in March. This win secured Turhan a contract with Matchroom and another opportunity against an undefeated rival, which resulted in her stopping Rima Ayadi in a challenging setting. In her most notable achievement to date, she finished the year by knocking out two-time Olympic medalist Beatriz Ferreira in a dramatic manner.
In light of a turnaround of more than 2 months, it’s no surprise that Gentzen (8-1, 3 KO) is a less formidable contender, having suffered a split decision loss to Browne and a series of victories over average competition in her home country of Australia. Nevertheless, it’s always good to witness a champion remaining active.
The Newcastle Arena will also host Josh Padley as he squares off against Jaouad Belmehdi for the European super featherweight championship.
