TORONTO — On Saturday night, Etobicoke’s Sara Haghighat-Joo became the fastest Canadian in history to win a World Title with her unanimous decision victory for the WBA Light Flyweight World Championship.
In just her fourth professional fight and promoted by United Boxing Promotions, Ontario’s premier boxing company, Haghighat-Joo defeated reigning WBA World Champion Lupita Bautista via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 96-94) over 10 rounds at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.
“It’s very cool to make some history, but I want to make another statement right away — I want those other three belts, I want to unify,” said a confident Haghighat-Joo following her WBA World Title victory. “I hope that my win shows those that look up to me that with persistence and consistent effort, you can get where you want to be.”
Haghighat-Joo dominated at range and enjoyed the better of most close exchanges throughout the night with Bautista (23-12-2, 6 KO), a now former three-time World Champion who certainly came to Canada with every intention of defending her title.
“At times, I got into wars with her and that was my ego,” admitted Haghighat-Joo, who cruised when on the outside with her jab established. “When I got back to the jab (and) used my angles, it worked — we knew she would come forward, so our plan was to take a half-step back, turn, and basically have a guaranteed land.”
Training out of Etobicoke’s West End Athletic Club, Haghighat-Joo was clear in her immediate goals now that she has reached the summit of world boxing.
“Unification, that’s it, let’s go,” she said following her WBA championship win. “I like to go for it, (and) I can box but I love to fight — I want to constantly make statements, so there is more to come!”
FIGHT NOTES
Haghighat-Joo became the fastest Canadian to ever win a World Title, in just her fourth professional fight…It was a successful evening for trainer Stevie Bailey and the West End Athletic Club, as Josh ‘The Boss’ Wagner also dominated Geronimo Vazquez in the Co-Feature to win the IBF International Welterweight belt…The contest was referee Mark Simmons’s first World Title assignment, and he was kept busy throughout the 10 rounds…Bautista previously held a record of 4-1 in World Title fights, the only defeat a split decision to Evelin Bermudez in Argentina.