ringsidereport.com, VA
Oct 27 2007
The Passing of the Torch: Susi Kentikian Steps In as Regina Halmich
Steps Out
By Roger T. Tubajiki-October 27, 2007
A few months ago, the reigning WIBF Flyweight Champion, Regina
Halmich, revealed that she would end her professional career, a
career that began in 1994 in her hometown of Karlsruhe, Germany,
against Fienie Klee, which she won via six round points decision. In
contrast to today’s female boxing, the early years of Regina Halmich
in professional boxing met critics who were skeptic and voiced their
views loudly. Despite the critics, Regina seemed to have the ability
to provide convincing ideas with realistic prospects of female boxing
developing into an innovative and through her long time struggle, the
popularity of female boxing, especially in Germany, has grown
tremendously.
This past February, Halmich made her debut as a boxing moderator on
television and this is what she wants to continue to continue doing
when she retires from boxing. The night of November 30th, 2007, at
the DM Arena, will be known by many as the icon of female boxing in
Germany, the `Box Queen’ Regina Halmich’s last appearance in the ring
as a fighter as she is set to defend her title in her farewell bout
against Hagar Shmoulefeld of Israel.
It has been announced that if Regina should defend her title and
retires, as she has planned, the title will be considered vacant and
up for grabs when the current WBA Female Flyweight Champion, Susi
Kentikian, when she faces former title challenger, Nadia Hockmi in a
rematch, on December 7th, 2007, at the Sporthalle in Hamburg,
Germany.
The end of Regina’s career should not be a note of desperation for
female boxing and fans. She is a source of inspiration for other
female boxers and since the end of her career, has raised some
conversation about who will be the next Regina Halmich out of the
other female boxers in Germany. It appears that almost every female
boxer has a tremendous respect for her for lifting the sport of
female boxing to the level it is today, but each of the other female
fighters seem to enjoy her personality in the sport.
Presently, Susi Kentikian is considered by many German female boxing
fans to be the most exciting and charismatic female boxer that the
country has ever produced and from a popularity standpoint, the
successor of Halmich.
Many fans admire Kentikian for her combativeness and enthusiasm and
you can feel the electricity in the arena when she steps into the
ring, which she proved recently in a bout that ended spectacularly
with a third round TKO over the dangerous Shanee Martin of the United
Kingdom.
As asylum seekers, the family of Kentikian knew the fear of seeing
their request for asylum rejected in Germany and being sent back to
their home country of Armenia where they fled the breaking
Nagorno-Karabakh War, which was the armed conflict that took place
from 1988 to 1994. Kentikian was a mere child at the time.
That fear occupied their minds during that period but never stopped
Kentikian, who got temporary residence to go to school and work at
the same time as a cleaner in a local fitness studio to provide for
her family. Meanwhile, Kentikian used to accompany her brother to a
local boxing Gym where she discovered her passion for the sport.
When she started with boxing training, she realized that it helped
her forget those turbulent moments and gave her reasons to stay
strong and focused. With a successful amateur career, and an
attractive boxing style, Kentikian earned the attention of the local
press and signed for a professional career, which helped her family
get a permanent residence permit in Germany as they were about to be
deported back to Armenian.
The professional boxing career of Kentikian began in January of 2005,
which she won via a 4-round UD over IIiana Boneva of Bulgaria. The
rest of her bouts until now were won in majority by way of TKO. This
is why some people name her the `Mike Tyson’ of female flyweight
division. This past February, Kentikian defeated Carolina Alvarez to
claim the WBA Female Flyweight Title, which she defended against
Maria Jose Nunez Anchorena, Nadia Hockmin, and Shanee Martin.
Among the four last opponents of Kentikian, Nadia Hockmi is the only
to have tactically handled Kentikian’s pressure. This time around,
Kentikian has promised her many fans that Nadia will pay a huge price
come December 7th, because she will be honored to defend her WBA
Title and add the WIBF belt should Regina Halmich successfully defend
her title in her last bout.
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