Sarah Mahfoud Can Opt to Face Dina Thorslund or Erika Cruz After Menke Win
IBF featherweight champion Sarah Mahfoud (11-0, 3KOs) finally got a quality win against former title challenger Nina Menke (12-3, 3KOs) and should now look to take advantage.
After over two years of waiting, cancelations, and frustration, Mahfoud picked up the most meaningful win of her career. In 2021, she was supposed to fight unified champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano in a major unification. However, the boxing gods had other ideas, as COVID-19 killed the fight.
In 2022, Mahfoud was set to bounce back with a showdown with Menke at the beginning of the year. Yet, COVID restrictions in Denmark canceled another fight. So fans were excited to see Mahfoud stroll into the ring against Menke making the first successful defense of the title.
RELATED: Sarah Mahfoud Hampered By Yet Another COVID Fight Cancellation
Fighting in front of the home crowd, Mahfoud put on a show, winning the fight by unanimous decision. One judge scored it 96-94, while two saw it 97-93. With this fight in the books and the COVID curse off her back, the 30-year-old champion can now look at other options.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mahfoud can circle back and look to fight popular Danish two-divisional champion Dina Thorlund. These two have been circling the wagon of fighting each other since 2019. Thorslund even went as far as to call her out after defeating Jasseth Noriega in 2021.
Thorslund, as of right now, is relaxing as the WBO bantamweight champion. However, she would undoubtedly have no problem going back up for the right price to face Mahfoud.
IBF champion Mahfoud can look for a unification fight with rival Mexican WBA champion Erika Cruz, who shocked the boxing world by defeating three-divisional champion Jelena Mrdjenovich in 2021. The only hiccup in making the fight is one of them must be willing to travel. Mahfoud has never fought outside of Denmark. In fact, she has won the majority of her fights at Frederiksberg Hallerne in Copenhagen. To her credit, Cruz has traveled outside of Mexico to win the title against Mrdjenovich in the United States.
Whatever decision Mahfoud makes, now is the time to capitalize on this victory.
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By: Garrisson Bland
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