Tina Rupprecht Unifies Atomweight With Victory Over Eri Matsuda

Tina Rupprecht (14-1-1, 3 KOs) is now a unified atomweight champion following a unanimous decision win over Eri Matsuda (7-2-1, 1 KO).

Scores for the contest were 97-92 and 96-93 (x2). With the victory, Rupprecht is now the WBA, WBO and WBC atomweight champion. She entered the fight with only the WBC title, a belt she won earlier this year with a unanimous decision win over Fabiána Bytyqi.

The bout headlined a card promoted by SES Boxing and Blanko Sports at the Olympiastuetzpunkt in Heidelberg, Germany. Boxing fans in Germany could catch the action live on ARD. Those in Japan could do so with UNext. For the rest of the world, you had to use a VPN to access either streaming service.

Tina Rupprecht Unifies Atomweight With Eri Matsuda Decision Win

Fight Recap

The very first round was a dramatic one as it saw Matsuda fall to the canvas following a right hand to the head. This occurred after barely 30 seconds had elapsed. It appeared to be a flash knockdown, however, as Matsuda quickly got up and continued fighting. The Japanese fighter stuck to moving around the ring off of her back foot. On the other hand, Rupprecht kept coming forward in pursuit of her opponent.

The bout was fought at a fast pace with both women throwing quick combinations. As the fight progressed, there were times when Matsuda was the one pressing forward. For the most part, however, it was Rupprecht coming forward and having better success connecting.

In the later rounds, Matsuda did what she could to ensure she stood toe to toe with Rupprecht. It resulted in several exchanges between the two at very close range. There was some smothering and holding due to this approach, but both fighters chose to keep swinging at each other with both hands till the final bell. In the end, Rupprecht had just done more over 10 rounds than her opponent, giving the German the unanimous decision win on the scorecards.

Post-fight Interview

Tina Rupprecht

“It’s incredible,” said Rupprecht. “First of all I want to thank you, Eri Matsuda. She’s a great sportswomen…Thank you for coming to Germany.” (Note: These were Rupprecht’s only words in English. The rest of her post-fight interview was in German, a language I am unable to translate).

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Promoter Benedikt Poelchau also spoke and while it was entirely in German, I was able to understand that Rupprecht’s next fight will be against IBF atomweight champion Sumire Yamanaka. It will take place in 2025 in either Japan or Germany. Both Rupprecht and Yamanaka also did a face-off in the ring. (Note: Yamanaka was scheduled to also be on this card to take on Fabiána Bytyqi, but the Czech fighter collapsed on the day of the weigh-in. According to Bytyqi’s Instagram, it appears she will now move up in weight, paving the way for Rupprecht-Yamanaka).

Tina Rupprecht vs. Eri Matsuda Undercard Results

ARD Broadcast

Labinot Xhoxhaj (20-0-1, 16 KOs) won a unanimous decision against Oleksandr Zakhozhyi (19-1, 15 KOs). Scores for the 12-round heavyweight bout were 116-110 (x2) and 115-111. Xhoxhaj went to the canvas in round two after being hit with a left hook. In the tenth, Zakhozhyi was knocked down after being hit with an overhand right. With the victory, Xhoxhaj is now the European heavyweight champion.

Devrim Goekduman (12-0, 8 KOs) won via fifth-round knockout against Yohan Morocoima (16-1, 15 KOs). The time of stoppage for this 10-round lightweight contest was 1:57. Morocoima went to the canvas in round five after being hit with a right hook to the body followed by a left uppercut to the head. He was unable to beat the referee’s count, giving Goekduman the knockout win.

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Alexander Hoffmann (12-0, 6 KOs) won via third-round technical knockout against Cheik Abdoul Zongo (8-1, 8 KOs). The time of stoppage for this six-round super lightweight clash was 2:27. Abdoul Zongo went to the canvas in round three from a left hook. He got up, but his corner threw in the towel, putting an end to proceedings.

Yasin Basar (9-1, 5 KOs) won via fourth-round technical knockout against Juan Diaz (12-2, 12 KOs). The official time of stoppage for this six-round cruiserweight bout was 3:00. Diaz refused to come out of his corner at the start of round five, giving Basar a technical knockout win.

Elija Uelkueseven (8-0, 6 KOs) won unanimously against Dominik Ameri (23-25, 10 KOs) in a six-round light heavyweight fight. At least one of the judges scored it 59-55. I do not know the remaining scores because the commentator was talking while they were being read. (Note: Only the final moments of this contest were part of the ARD broadcast)

YouTube Broadcast

Amin Younis (1-0-1, 1 KO) and Szymon Kajda (1-0-1, 1 KO) fought to a split draw in their four-round light heavyweight clash. One judge had it 39-37 for Younis, another saw it 39-37 for Kajda and the third scorecard read 39-39.

Rudolf Hoffman (11-0-1, 3 KOs) won a unanimous decision against Atilla Kayabasi (11-16, 7 KOs). Scores for the six-round super lightweight bout were 60-54 across the board.

Devin Adam (2-0, 1 KO) won a unanimous decision against Pavel Albrecht (19-28, 14 KOs) in a four-round middleweight contest. Scores were 40-35 across the board. In round three, Albrecht went to the canvas from a left hook.

Opening the broadcast on the fight24 YouTube channel, Mansoor Zada (2-0, 1 KO) won a split decision against Bartłomiej Wlodarczyk (2-4, 1 KO). While one judge saw the four-round super middleweight fight 39-37 for Wlodarczyk, the other two had it 39-37 for Zada.