Ivana Habazin


Ivana Habazin is a Croatian professional boxer. She was a two-time welterweight world champion, having held the IBF female welterweight title in 2014 and WBC female welterweight title in 2024. She also held the IBO female middleweight title in 2018.
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Early life

Habazin was born on 22 October 1989 in Zlatar, Croatia. A Catholic, Habazin wanted to enter a monastery at the age of 14, but later decided to pursue a career in boxing, which she began training at the age of 19. She was inspired to begin boxing by the movie Rocky.
She holds a master's degree in theology and attends the Dag Hammarskjöld college for a specialist degree in international relations and diplomacy.

Professional career

Habazin made her professional debut in June 2010, against Edit Szigeti, whom she defeated by a first round TKO. Habazin kept her undefeated record over her next nine fights, achieving stoppage victories against Emeke Halas, Ava Kovacs and twice against Daniela Bickei, as well as decision victories against Edita Karabeg twice, Marija Vuković and twice against Suzana Radovanović.
Her 10 fight winning streak earned her the chance to fight Eva Bajic for the vacant IBF female welterweight title. Bajic won the fight by unanimous decision.
Habazin rebounded from this loss with two decision victories, defeating Teodora Georgieva and Borislava Goranova. She once against challenged for the IBF female welterweight title against Sabrina Giuliani in March 2014. Habazin won the fight by split decision. She afterwards scheduled to defend her IBF title against Cecilia Brækhus, who was the defending WBO, WBA and WBC champion. Brækhus won the fight by unanimous decision.
She once again rebounded from this loss with two victories, a decision against Galina Gyumliyska and a first round stoppage of Dajana Bukva. These two victories gave Habazin the chance to fight Mikaela Laurén for the WBC female light middleweight title. Laurén won the fight by a third round TKO.
Following this loss, Habazin would win her next two fights, winning unanimous decisions against Valentina Stanković and Sanja Ristić. She was scheduled to fight Elene Sikmashvili for the vacant IBO female middleweight title. Habazin defeated Sikmashvili by a fifth round TKO. Habazin was scheduled to defend her IBO title six months later against Gifty Amanua Ankrah. Habazin won the fight by unanimous decision. Three months later, Habazin fought a rematch with Eva Bajic, winning the fight by unanimous decision.
Habazin was scheduled to defend her title for the second time against Claressa Shields in January 2020. This was the third time this fight was scheduled, with Shields pulling out the first time due to a knee injury, while the fight was cancelled the second time as Shields' brother Timothy Johnson assaulted Habazin's coach James Ali Bashir. Shields won the fight by unanimous decision.
She was scheduled to fight Layla McCarter in March 2021. Habazin was later rescheduled to fight Nana Chakhvashvili in April 2021 for the World Boxing Council Middle East Welterweight title. She won the fight by a second round TKO. Ms. McCarter also fought on the card.
She claimed the vacant WBC 147-pound title by winning against Hungarian Kinga Magyar on 20 April 2024 in Dražen Petrović Basketball Centre in Zagreb.

IBF and WBC welterweight championship unification

Habazin faced Natasha Jonas for the unified IBF and WBC welterweight titles in Liverpool, England on 14 December 2024. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Loss23–6Natasha JonasUD1014 Dec 2024Exhibition Centre, Liverpool, EnglandLost WBC welterweight title;
for IBF welterweight title
28Win23-5Kinga MagyarUD1020 Apr 2024KC Dražen Petrović, Zagreb, CroatiaWon vacant WBC welterweight title
27Win22–5Timea BelikUD629 Sep 2023Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
26Loss21–5Terri HarperUD1027 May 2023Manchester Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor WBA light-middleweight title
25Win21–4Diana PrazakUD1022 Oct 2022Sportska Dvorana, Zabok, CroatiaWon vacant WBC Silver welterweight title
24Loss20–4Claressa ShieldsUD1010 Jan 2020Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant WBC and WBO light-middleweight titles
23Win20–3Eva BajicUD108 Dec 2018KC Dražen Petrović, Zagreb, Croatia
22Win19–3Gifty Amanua AnkrahUD108 Sep 2018Arena Zagreb, Zagreb, CroatiaRetained IBO middleweight title
21Win18–3Elene SikmashviliTKO5 16 Mar 2018Hallmann Dome, Vienna, AustriaWon vacant IBO middleweight title
20Win17–3Sanja RistićUD629 Oct 2017Dom Mladih, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
19Win16–3Valentina StankovićUD65 Jul 2017Nightclub Ribnica, Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina
18Loss15–3Mikaela LaurénTKO3 23 Apr 2016Stockholm, SwedenFor WBC light-middleweight title
17Win15–2Dajana BukvaTKO1 5 Dec 2015Bogumil Toni Arena, Samobor, Croatia
16Win14–2Galina GyumliyskaPTS629 Nov 2014Bogumil Toni Arena, Samobor, Croatia
15Loss13–2Cecilia BrækhusUD1013 Sep 2014TAP 1, Copenhagen, DenmarkLost IBF welterweight title;
For WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight titles
14Win13–1Sabrina GiulianiSD1022 Mar 2014Hall Omnisport de La Préalle, Herstal, BelgiumWon vacant IBF welterweight title
13Win12–1Borislava GoranovaPTS630 Nov 2013Božić Gym, Zagreb, Croatia
12Win11–1Teodora GeorgievaUD89 Jun 2013Zadar, Croatia
11Loss10–1Eva BajicUD1022 Mar 2013Universal Hall, Berlin, GermanyFor vacant IBF welterweight title
10Win10–0Suzana RadovanovićPTS822 Sep 2012Hala sportover Nikšić, Nikšić, Montenegro
9Win9–0Edita KarabegPTS824 Feb 2012Opatija, Croatia
8Win8–0Ava KovacsTKO5 20 Nov 2011BK Sensei, Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
7Win7–0Emeke HalasTKO4 1 Oct 2011Samobor, Croatia
6Win6–0Daniela BickeiTKO6 7 Jul 2011Fitness Centre Omnia, Zadar, Croatia
5Win5–0Edita KarabegPTS628 May 2011Velika Gorica, Croatia
4Win4–0Marija VukovićUD620 Feb 2011OFC Gym, Opatija, Croatia
3Win3–0Suzana RadovanovićPTS44 Dec 2010Samobor, Croatia
2Win2–0Daniela BickeiTKO3 22 Sep 2010Fitness Centre Omnia, Zadar, Croatia
1Win1–0Edit SzigetiTKO1 25 Jun 2010Velika Gorica, Croatia