IBF World Featherweight champion Jennifer Han put on a show for the energetic crowd at the Don Haskins Center on Friday night as she retained her title with an impressive unanimous decision over Olivia Gerula.  Han won the fight with ease as she dominated each round, and was simply too much to handle for her Canadian challenger.

All three judges scored the bout 100-89 in favor of Han who successfully defended her title for the third time.  Gerula, a former world champion, began the bout as the aggressor by chasing Han around the ring in relentless fashion, by the second round Jennifer began to get comfortable as the two exchanged blows and she started getting into her rhythm

By the fourth round Han was utilizing her jab, working the body, and out boxing her opponent in a masterful way.  Gerula was knocked down just before the end of the fifth round thanks to an exceptional flurry of punches by Han.  Jennifer would cruise the rest of the fight to an easy victory with power shots, speed, agility and a superior finish to seal the victory.

Gerula came into the bout a pound and a half over weight, therefore she could not have won Han's title even had she defeated her.  At 33 years old Han continues to improve with each title defense, and it seems as though it may be just a matter of time before she receives a nationally televised bout to unify the championship.

Photo by Brandon Cohn
Photo by Brandon Cohn
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The main event on the card featured an epic battle between Jonathan Maicelo and Jose Felix Jr. in which Maicelo won by a 10 round unanimous decision.  This bout was one of the better fights we have seen in El Paso in years as Maicelo knocked Felix down 5 times, but Felix kept coming as both men were able to land non stop blows throughout.

It was a tremendous night of boxing to say the least, as impressive as Han was in her third title defense over former world champion Olivia Gerula, and considering that she is looking as dominant as ever, one should ask the question, is Han the greatest sports figure to have ever come out of El Paso?  I think there is a strong argument for the answer being yes, as Jennifer continues to make the Sun City proud.

 

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