Elif Nur Turhan successfully defended her IBF lightweight world title on Saturday, June 13, 2026, defeating American challenger Gabriela Tellez via unanimous decision. The 10-round championship bout took place at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, where all three judges scored the contest 96-94 in favor of the Turkish champion.
The victory marks the second successful defense for the 31-year-old titleholder, who remains unbeaten in her professional career.
The fight served as a prominent co-feature to the WBA bantamweight title clash between Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Antonio Vargas. Turhan, who entered the ring with 73 professional rounds of experience compared to just 39 for her opponent, relied on her veteran composure to navigate the challenge.
Having been named the 2025 Women’s Fighter of the Year by BoxingScene and The Sporting News, she arrived in Arizona with significant momentum and a five-inch height advantage over the teenager from Florida.
For the 19-year-old Gabriela Tellez, the night represented her first attempt to become a world champion and her first outing in such a high-stakes environment. Known by the nickname “Sosa,” Tellez sought to become the youngest women’s world champion in the history of the sport.
While she pushed the champion across ten rounds, the narrow scorecards resulted in her first professional defeat, dropping her record to 7-1.
Elif Nur Turhan maintains IBF lightweight title dominance
Throughout the 10-round contest, Turhan utilized her 5-foot-7 frame to keep the 5-foot-2 Tellez at range. The Turkish orthodox fighter established her rhythm early, preventing the aggressive American from finding the knockout blow she likely needed. This tactical win follows her prior success in December 2025, when she won the title by stopping Beatriz Ferreira in five rounds.
Turhan’s experience in longer fights appeared to be a deciding factor as the bout progressed into the championship rounds. While Roberto Duran identified Ken Buchanan as a master of ring intelligence in the past, Turhan showed her own brand of tactical awareness by neutralizing Tellez’s pressure. The champion’s professional record now improves to 14-0 following this victory in Arizona.
The result maintains Turhan’s grip on the IBF strap after her previous split-decision victory over Taylah Gentzen in January. Despite the champion’s pre-fight knockout ratio of 62%, this performance was more about discipline and control than raw power. She successfully managed the distance against Tellez, whose reach was limited to 63 inches compared to the champion’s superior height and length.
Gabriela Tellez shows promise despite первый loss
Despite the setback, Gabriela Tellez proved she could compete at the elite level at a remarkably young age. The Vero Beach native, who made her professional debut in July 2024, showed flashes of the talent that led her to a first-round victory over Crystal Garcia Nova earlier this February.
Her ambition to chase a world title after only seven professional fights mirrored the aggressive career paths taken by other rising stars.
The 96-94 scorecards indicate that Tellez was competitive in nearly half the rounds, often following the lead of aggressive technical fighters. While some prospects wait years for a shot, Tellez took the opportunity on a major DAZN-broadcasted card.
This willingness to face top champions early is a trend seen elsewhere in the sport, much as David Benavidez targets elite opponents to prove his standing regardless of weight class or sanctioning bodies.
Matchroom Boxing undercard results from Glendale
The event, promoted by Matchroom Boxing, featured several high-stakes bouts beneath the Rodriguez-Vargas main event. One of the night’s highlights was the rematch between Arturo Cardenas and Jordan Martinez for the WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight title. After fighting to a split draw in February, Cardenas managed to secure his title in the second meeting.
- Arturo Cardenas def. Jordan Martinez (WBC Continental Americas title)
- Elias Montoya Terraza def. Adrian Rodriguez (Lightweight)
- Trini Ochoa def. Cristian Perez Hernandez (Super lightweight)
- Hector Beltran def. Shaquile Felicia (Super welterweight)
- Xechal Xavier Esquivel def. Rayshawn Taylor (Featherweight)
- Ronny Alvarez def. Filip Stankovic (Super middleweight)
The depth of the card provided a strong platform for the lightweight division to shine. Like the anticipated Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua showdown that looms in the heavyweight class, these lighter-weight matchups are drawing significant attention from global streaming audiences. The success of the Glendale event confirms the Arizona desert as a growing hub for major televised boxing spectacles.
Future outlook for the IBF lightweight crown
Turhan now looks ahead toward potentially larger unification bouts in the women’s lightweight division. By defeating a young, promoted prospect on American soil, she has significantly raised her profile beyond the Turkish market. Her 14-0 record secures her position as one of the most formidable women at 135 pounds, especially given her status as the 2025 Fighter of the Year.
For Tellez, the path forward will likely involve more seasoning under the Matchroom banner. At 19, her career is still in its infancy, and a narrow decision loss to an established world champion is far from a terminal blow to her aspirations.
She remains a dangerous contender in the lightweight landscape, and a return to the gym will likely focus on closing the gap against taller, more experienced technical operators like Turhan.
