Jennifer Han (born June 25, 1983) is an American professional boxer who held the IBF female featherweight title from 2015 to 2020, and was the first world champion boxer from El Paso, Texas.

Jennifer Han
Born (1983-06-25) June 25, 1983 (age 40)
NationalityAmerican
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach66 in (168 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights26
Wins18
Wins by KO1
Losses5
Draws1
No contests3

Professional career edit

Han made her professional debut on July 31, 2009, losing via majority decision (MD) over four rounds against Melissa St. Vil at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[2]

After compiling a record of 10–2–1 (1 KO), she challenged reigning champion Ji-Hye Woo for the IFBA featherweight title on March 23, 2014, at the Wooseul Gymnasium in Haenam, South Korea. Han suffered the third defeat of her career, losing via ten-round MD. Two judges scored the bout 97–95 and 96–93 in favor of Woo while the third judge scored it a draw at 95–95.[3][4]

Two fights later, she was scheduled to face Helen Joseph on April 18, 2015, with the vacant IBF female featherweight title on the line. However, Joseph was forced to withdraw from the bout after she was unable to obtain a VISA to enter the U.S.. Fatuma Zarika stepped in as a late replacement, with Han emerging victorious via unanimous decision (UD) to capture the vacant IBF female Intercontinental featherweight title.[5] The fight with Joseph for the vacant IBF world title was rescheduled for September 19, and took place at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. Han captured her first world title via UD with the judges' scorecards reading 98–91, 98–92 and 97–92. With the victory, Han became the first world champion boxer from El Paso.[6]

After two successful defences of her world title, Han faced Olivia Gerula on February 17, 2017, at the Don Haskins Center. At the pre-fight weigh-in, Gerula weighed 1.5 lbs over the maximum weight limit, making her ineligible to contest for the IBF championship. With the title still on the line for Han, she made a successful defence, winning via UD with all three judges scoring the bout 100–89.[7]

She made one more defence–a UD victory against Lizbeth Crespo in February 2018[8]–before taking two years away from the sport after giving birth to a child in May 2019. Han returned to the ring on February 15, 2020, scoring an eight-round UD victory against Jeri Sitzes in a non-title bout.[9]

Han relinquished her title in July 2020,[10] and moved up to the lightweight division. On September 4, 2021, at Headingley Rugby Stadium in Leeds, England, she challenged reigning champion Katie Taylor for the undisputed female lightweight championship losing the contest by unanimous decision.[11]

Switching weight divisions again, Han's next fight was a unanimous decision loss to IBF and WBO female super-featherweight world champion Mikaela Mayer at the Orange County Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California, on 9 April 2022.[12]

Professional boxing record edit

27 fights 18 wins 5 losses
By knockout 1 0
By decision 17 5
Draws 1
No contests 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
27 Loss 18–5–1 (3)   Mikaela Mayer UD 10 Apr 9, 2022   OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, California, U.S. For WBO, IBF, The Ring female super featherweight titles
26 Loss 18–4–1 (3)   Katie Taylor UD 10 Sep 4, 2021   Emerald Headingley Stadium, Leeds, England For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female lightweight titles
25 Win 18–3–1 (3)   Jeri Sitzes UD 8 Feb 15, 2020   El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
24 Win 17–3–1 (3)   Lizbeth Crespo UD 10 Feb 17, 2018   Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. Retained IBF female featherweight title
23 Win 16–3–1 (3)   Olivia Gerula UD 10 Feb 17, 2017   Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. IBF female featherweight title at stake for Han only after Gerula missed weight
22 Win 15–3–1 (3)   Liliana Martinez UD 10 Oct 15, 2016   Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. Retained IBF female featherweight title
21 Win 14–3–1 (3)   Calista Silgado UD 10 Apr 29, 2016   Southwest University Event Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. Retained IBF female featherweight title
20 Win 13–3–1 (3)   Helen Joseph UD 10 Sep 19, 2015   Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S. Won vacant IBF female featherweight title
19 Win 12–3–1 (3)   Fatuma Zarika UD 10 Apr 18, 2015   El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S. Won vacant IBF female Intercontinental featherweight title
18 Win 11–3–1 (3)   Christina Ruiz UD 8 Jun 28, 2014   El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
17 Loss 10–3–1 (3)   Ji-Hye Woo MD 10 Mar 23, 2014   Wooseul Gymnasium, Haenam, South Korea For IFBA featherweight title
16 Win 10–2–1 (3)   Lesly Morales UD 6 Oct 5, 2013   Socorro Entertainment Center, Socorro, Texas, U.S.
15 Win 9–2–1 (3)   Karen Dulin UD 8 Jun 22, 2013   PT's Showclub, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
14 Loss 8–2–1 (3)   Claudia Gutierrez SD 4 Oct 27, 2012   El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
13 Win 8–1–1 (3)   Kita Watkins UD 4 Aug 24, 2012   Renaissance Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
12 Win 7–1–1 (3)   Nohime Dennisson UD 6 Dec 3, 2011   Pan American Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
11 Win 6–1–1 (3)   Tammy Franks UD 4 Nov 11, 2011   Cohen Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
10 Win 5–1–1 (3)   Davrene Morrison RTD 4 (6), 3:00 Oct 15, 2011   Cohen Stadium, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
9 Win 4–1–1 (3)   Kerri Hill UD 4 Sep 15, 2011   El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
8 Win 3–1–1 (3)   Lisa Lozano UD 4 Aug 19, 2011   Renaissance Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
7 NC 2–1–1 (3)   Jessica Gonzalez NC 6 Apr 9, 2011   Poliforum Mezoamericano, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico
6 NC 2–1–1 (2)   Jessica Gonzalez NC 6 Apr 2, 2011   Poliforum Mezoamericano, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico
5 NC 2–1–1 (1)   Andrea Cortina NC 6 Mar 26, 2011   Poliforum Mezoamericano, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico
4 Win 2–1–1   Geni Taylor UD 4 Feb 11, 2011   Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
3 Win 1–1–1   Crystal Hoy UD 4 Apr 10, 2010   Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
2 Draw 0–1–1   Nydia Feliciano SD 6 Mar 12, 2010   PAL Gym, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
1 Loss 0–1   Melissa St. Vil MD 4 Jul 31, 2009   Pan American Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.

References edit

  1. ^ "Boxing record for Jennifer Han". BoxRec.
  2. ^ "Jennifer Han vs. Melissa St. Vil". boxrec.com. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "BoxRec: Jennifer Han vs. Ji-Hye Woo". BoxRec. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Knight, Bill (April 16, 2015). "Boxing: Visa problems cancel Jennifer Han's world title fight". El Paso Times. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Knight, Bill. "Boxing: Jennifer Han dominates Fatuma Zarika in featherweight championship at El Paso County Coliseum". El Paso Times. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Chavez, Felix F. (February 9, 2020). "Top fights for El Paso world champion boxer Jennifer Han". El Paso Times. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Cohn, Brandon (February 18, 2017). "Jennifer Han Retains Her Title with a Unanimous Decision Over Olivia Gerula". KROD. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Mendez, Daniel (February 18, 2018). "Jennifer Han retains her IBF title in front of her home crowd". The Prospector. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Ochoa, Adrian (February 16, 2020). "Jennifer Han defeats Jeri Sitzes by unanimous decision". KVIA-TV. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sarah Mahfoud Has Been Elevated To IBF World Featherweight Champion — Boxing News". Bonxing247. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  11. ^ "Katie Taylor defeats Jennifer Han to retain world lightweight titles". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  12. ^ "Mikaela Mayer dominates Jennifer Han to defend WBO and IBF super-featherweight titles in California". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-29.

External links edit

Regional boxing titles
N/A IBF female Intercontinental featherweight champion
April 18, 2015 – September 19, 2015
Won world title
N/A
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Dahiana Santana
IBF female featherweight champion
September 19, 2015 – July 2020
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Sarah Mahfoud
Interim champion promoted