Matchroom Boxing has confirmed the signing of undefeated WBA super-featherweight champion Hyun-Mi Choi to a multi-fight promotional contract.
Choi (17-0-1, 4 KOs) debuted in October 2008 and have become a world champion on the exact same evening, when she scored a 10-round unanimous resolution over China’s Chunyan Xu in Jinan Gun.
The South Korean, who was born in North Korea however switched nationalities in 2004, made seven title defenses over the following 5 years earlier than changing into a two-weight world champ in Might 2014 after she defeated Japan’s Chika Mizutani for the interim WBA super-featherweight title. She was later acknowledged as full champion.
She defended that belt seven instances since, beginning with a Might 2014 success over Thailand’s Siriwan Thongmanit and, most not too long ago, conquering Wakako Fujiwara of Japan in June 2019.
Choi will little question have a very eager eye on new stablemate and WBC titleholder Terri Harper when she defends the title towards Katharina Thanderz on Saturday on the SSE Enviornment, Wembley, as a part of a history-making triple-header of girls’s world title fights on the identical invoice.
Additionally beneath contract to Eddie Hearn is France’s long-reigning IBF champion within the division, Maiva Hamadouche.
“I’ve labored laborious and devoted my life to being the most effective Champion I will be,” stated Choi. “I attempt to enhance day-after-day and work on my craft. I’m grateful for my household, buddies, and staff who’ve supported me on this championship journey these previous 12 years. As I’ve grown and matured and studied our sport, I nonetheless have a craving want not simply to defend my title however to attain my final purpose of unifying the entire belts.
“I’ll proceed to problem myself, work laborious and dedicate my entire being to ladies’s boxing. I wish to be an envoy for ladies’s boxing and proceed to develop its reputation.”
Hearn admitted that the plan was to work in direction of a unification battle in 2021 at 130 kilos.
“We’re delighted to welcome Hyun-Mi Choi to the Matchroom Boxing staff,” he stated. “It’s a fantastic time for ladies’s boxing and significantly the Tremendous Featherweight division as we goal an undisputed champion within the weight class.
“We sit up for seeing her defend her title later this 12 months earlier than a significant unification in early 2021.”
Hearn has a handful of playing cards but to return in 2020, together with the present headlined by Conor Benn vs. Sebastian Formella on Nov. 21, and Billy Joe Saunders vs. Martin Murray for the previous’s WBO super-middleweight title on Dec. 4.
Each of these occasions may even be staged on the SSE and can be screened reside on Sky Sports activities within the U.Okay. and on DAZN in all nine DAZN markets including the U.S.
As well as, Anthony Joshua defends the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles towards Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12, with undercard slots nonetheless open there.
Paco Damian of Paco Presents Boxing added: “The whole Hyun-Mi’s staff are very proud to symbolize the longest reigning champion in the present day.
“Hyun-Mi is without doubt one of the most respectful, sweetest, hardworking athletes I’ve ever identified. We’re additionally more than happy to have teamed up with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing to have the ability to give Hyun-Mi the fights she deserved. She can be able to defend her WBA super-featherweight title towards an opponent to be decided earlier than the top of the 12 months.”
