The Augsburg native already holds the WBC, WBA and WBO belts. Now she wants the IBF title too.
Boxer Tina Rupprecht has a historic opportunity to unify all four major world titles. On April 5 in Potsdam, the WBC, WBA and WBO atomweight world champion will fight the Japanese IBF world champion Sumire Yamanaka for the title of undisputed champion.
Never before in the history of German boxing has a female or male athlete held all the major world championship belts at the same time.
“I’m not just fighting for myself, but for German boxing and its international recognition. I sometimes have to pinch myself to realize what is at stake,” said the 1.53m tall ‘Tiny Tina’: ‘It’s the biggest challenge of my career – and my biggest chance!’
Augsburg native makes boxing history in November
The woman from Augsburg made German boxing history in November and, by beating Eri Matsuda of Japan, also secured the WBO and WBA belts in addition to the WBC belt.
No German boxer, male or female, has ever held the world titles of three major associations. The secondary school teacher competes in the lowest weight class up to 46.3 kilograms.
Yamanaka is now also defending the belt of the renowned boxing magazine “The Ring” – this is awarded by the specialist journalists of the American “Boxing Bible” when, in their opinion, the two best boxers in the world compete against each other in a weight class.
MDR will broadcast the fight in Potsdam live on April 5th, starting at 10:35 p.m.
