IPSWICH product Taylah Gentzen may have left Utilita Arena without the IBF lightweight title, but the Australian veteran enhanced her reputation on the world stage after pushing champion Elif Nur Turhan to a razor-thin split decision on Sunday morning in Newcastle, England.
Training out of Ipswich City Boxing Club, Gentzen delivered a disciplined, tactically sound performance that consistently disrupted Turhan’s rhythm and blunted the champion’s much-hyped power across 10 demanding rounds.
While two judges ultimately sided with Turhan by scores of 98-92 and 96-94, a third had Gentzen ahead 97-93, underlining just how competitive the contest proved.
From the opening bell, Gentzen, 35, executed a clear and effective game plan.
Circling on the back foot, she drew Turhan forward before meeting her with a steady jab and sharp counters as the champion lunged in with wide, aggressive attacks.
Gentzen’s footwork and ring awareness allowed her to control distance, and when Turhan did manage to close the gap, the Ipswich fighter tied her up neatly, preventing any sustained offence.
Turhan, 30, grew visibly frustrated as the fight progressed, struggling to land cleanly against Gentzen’s movement and defensive awareness.
As the rounds wore on, Turhan leaned increasingly on physicality, wrestling in the clinches and attempting to
impose her strength, particularly through the middle rounds.
Gentzen absorbed the pressure well, staying upright and competitive even as the champion enjoyed her strongest moments in the eighth and ninth rounds.
The final round was scrappy, but Gentzen continued to work intelligently, answering Turhan’s aggression and remaining active through to the closing bell.
Although the judges narrowly favoured the defending champion’s forward momentum, Gentzen’s tactical execution and defensive sharpness ensured the outcome remained in doubt until the final scores were read.
Gentzen drops to 8-2 (3 KOs), but the performance reaffirmed her ability to compete at world-title level
and highlighted the challenges Turhan faces against a seasoned, mobile opponent.
For the Ipswich boxer, the loss may ultimately serve as a springboard rather than a setback – a display that confirmed she belongs on the sport’s biggest stage and remains a threat to any champion in the lightweight division.
