It was sweet redemption for Jelena Mrdjenovich on Friday night at the Shaw Conference Centre.
Canada’s most decorated female boxer became an eight-time world champion with a unanimous decision (96-93, 96-93, 97-92) victory over Edith Matthysse of Argentina to become the WBC and WBA world featherweight champion.
The rematch was an absolute war for 10 straight rounds.
“The last few rounds, I said (expletive) it. Let’s relax and fight. I thought I owned that fight, but it was an absolute war,” said Mrdjenovich.
“It took me awhile to settle in, I landed some real solid punches, but she’s tough and she came to fight.”
It was a back and forth battle through the midway point of the bout, but Mrdjenovich dominated the final few rounds and almost knocked out Matthysse in the 10th round, landing a vicious combo that dropped Matthysse to her knees. Mrdjenovich finished the final round strong.
“I thought she was going to go, but that’s what makes champions,” said Mrdjenovic. “That’s why she was a two-time champion and the WBA champ, and that’s why we were unifying the women’s division, because she’s tough as nails.”
By: Jason Hills Edmonton Journal