site.btaBulgaria's Ibanez Claims First Professional Boxing Title

Cuban-born Bulgarian boxer Javier Ibanez won the first professional boxing title of his career after defeating the Dominican Republic's Yermi Peralta Jimenez on points at a boxing gala in the Dominican town of Puerto Plata on Saturday night to claim the World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino Featherweight belt. Ibanez dominated the 10-round contest and secured a deserved victory by unanimous decision.

For Ibanez, who won Olympic bronze at the Paris 2024 Games, it was only his second professional bout. A month and a half ago, he knocked out Venezuela's Anderson Lopez in the fifth round at a boxing gala in San Sebastian de Los Reyes, Spain. Peralta Jimenez came into Saturday's fight with considerable professional experience, and the defeat was only the third of his 20-fight career.

The professional bout forms part of Ibanez's preparations for the European Boxing Championships, which will be held in Sofia from September 15 to 26. He will compete with fellow Bulgarian international Yasen Radev for a place in the national team in the 55 kg division for the championships at Asics Arena.