Spaniards put World Title reward on the line for Lynn Harvey
More than just history and the EBU European title will be on the line for Lynn Harvey [5(4)-1(0)] when she travels to Spain in two weeks’ time.
Irish-Boxing.com can reveal that, if ‘The Hunter’ manages to defeat Spaniard Catalina Diaz [4(0)-2(0)] to claim the vacant strawweight belt and become the first ever Irish female European champion, she will be immediately offered a world title shot.
Iñaki Jano of PBK Promotions has told this outlet that the promotional outfit have pledged to offer the winner of the Saturday March 23rd continental title fight a shot at IBF strawweight champion Joana Pastrana [15(5)-1(0)-1].
Pastrana, like Harvey’s upcoming opponent Diaz, fights under the PBK banner and if the Dubliner emerges victorious in Madrid later this month will be offered the chance to win a world title in her next bout.
The 28-year-old ticket selling Spaniard, who previously held the blue belt Harvey challenges for this month, successfully defended her title against former five-time flyweight title challenger Ana Arrazola of Italy last Saturday.
The victory which played out in front of a sold out crowd at the Pabellón Ciudad Deportiva Navafría in Moralzarzal was the Madrid native’s second successful defence and her third world title fight win.
It opens the doors for the IBF champion to make a voluntary defence and her promoters want her to put her title on the line against the winner of Harvey versus Diaz.
A win for Harvey over Diaz would, theoretically, put her on a course for WBC champion Tina Rupprecht due to the European title’s affiliation but a shot at the IBF would not be passed up.
Presumably Jano is confident that his charge will win that European title fight and enable a Spanish showdown.
However, Team Harvey are in confident mood ahead of the fight and go to Spain determined to make history.
Kilbarrack favourite Harvey’s manager, Jay Barney, had previously stated Pastrana was a future option should victory be secured, but terms will have to be agreed and will only be discussed post March 23rd.
