Vietnam boxing ace defeated in unified world championship fight

By Quang Dung, Hoang An   September 9, 2022 | 12:14 am PT
Vietnam boxing ace defeated in unified world championship fight
Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi (R) receives a right hook from Yoskata Valle in the WBO and IBF championship fight on September 8, 2022. Photo by Lateja
Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi failed to become unified world champion after losing to Costa Rican boxer Yoskata Valle in the WBO and IBF strawweight belt fight.

Valle, who has successfully defended her world IBF belt five times, used her experience and advantage to beat Nhi by dominating most of the bout on Thursday night (local time).

Thousands of home fans in San Jose, Costa Rica cheered every time Valle threw an accurate punch.

In the first three rounds, Valle stormed Nhi with quick and fierce attacks. A better height and arm span than Nhi helped Valle deploy versatile strikes. She often aimed for Nhi’s head with powerful hooks. Even when Nhi defended her face with both hands, Valle still managed to hit the target.

The pace reduced in the fourth and fifth rounds but Valle still managed to dominate. She increased the intensity in the sixth round, forcing Nhi on defense. When Nhi tried to attack, she was countered and struck. She tried to knock out Valle in the 10th round but failed.

Highlights of the unified world championship fight between Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi and Yoskata Valle in Costa Rica.

When the game ended, Valle ran around the ring to celebrate even before the referees gave the final score. All three referees gave the same score of 100-90 to Valley, perhaps the biggest point difference possible in boxing.

This is Nhi's first defeat in professional boxing after six matches, while Valle had 26 wins and only two losses.

Before the game, Nhi said she "brought one belt to Costa Rica and will come back with two." But in the end, she went home empty-handed and lost her WBO belt to Valle.

Nhi, 26, became the first Vietnamese boxer to win a world championship, after defeating Japan's Etsuko Tada last year.

 
 
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