Sara Haghighat-Joo Becomes WBA Champion

By Vincent Morin
Photo Credit: Jeff Lockhart

Canadian Sara Haghighat-Joo became the regular WBA light flyweight (108 lb) world champion this Saturday in a gala presented by United Boxing Promotions at the Toronto Casino Resort, in the Queen City.

Originally from Vancouver and now residing in Etobicoke, Ontario, Haghighat-Joo (4-0, 0 KOs) won by unanimous decision in 10 rounds against the reigning champion, Mexico’s Maria Guadalupe Bautista (23-12-2, 6 KOs).

The WBA super champion in the division remains Mexico's Jessica Nery-Plata.

With her victory, the boxer trained by Stevie Bailey is now ranked 7th in the world among light flyweights on Boxrec. Montreal's Kim Clavel currently holds the 5th position.

With the victories of Haghighat-Joo and Jessica Camara this Saturday in South Korea, there are now three Canadian women holding world titles.

Haghighat-Joo (WBA regular light flyweight title), Camara (WBA Gold lightweight title), and Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (WBC heavyweight title) all have a belt in hand.

Wagner Remains Undefeated

In the co-main event of the evening, Ontario’s Josh "The Boss" Wagner (18-0, 9 KOs) defeated Argentine southpaw Geronimo Manuel Vazquez (17-2, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision to win the vacant IBF International welterweight title (147 lb).

The intense boxer from Orangeville is now ranked 25th in the world on Boxrec.

In the middleweight division (160 lb), Jamaican Kemahl Russell (17-1, 15 KOs) stopped Croatian Luka Lozo (8-2-1, 7 KOs) in the third round. He is now ranked 16th in the world on Boxrec.

Lightweight (135 lb) Gisu Lee (11-4, 4 KOs) won his third consecutive fight by stopping Mexican Alexis de la Cruz (9-4-2, 4 KOs) in the seventh round.

The South Korean native is undefeated since moving to Toronto, winning all three of his bouts on Canadian soil.

In the super lightweight division (140 lb), Ontario’s Bradley Wilcox (12-0, 7 KOs) dominated veteran Argentine Jose Luis Rodriguez (23-21-2, 3 KOs), stopping him in the fifth round.

Jamaican-born Toronto native Joshua Frazer (10-0, 7 KOs) maintained his perfect record by winning by TKO in the second round against Argentine super welterweight (154 lb) Carlos Daniel Aquino (21-17-2, 14 KOs).

In the curtain-raiser, Dan Almeida (2-0, 0 KOs) defeated Drake Olchowecki (1-4-1, 0 KOs) by unanimous decision in a clash between local super middleweights (168 lb).