New Deal, New Era: Elif Nur Turhan Signs Deal with Matchroom
IBF Lightweight Champion Elif Nur Turhan has signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing, shifting the division's power structure. The "Golden Turk," coming off a 2025 Fighter of the Year campaign, defends her title against Taylah Gentzen on January 31 in Newcastle on the Murtazaliev-Kelly card.
In a short period of time, Jake Paul, Nakisa Bidarian, and Most Valuable Promotions have taken a stranglehold on the business of women’s boxing, but the lightweight division may ultimately run through another promotion.
IBF Lightweight Champion Elif Nur Turhan has signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. Turhan will kickstart the next chapter of her career in Newcastle on January 31, 2026, as she battles Taylah Gentzen of Australia. The bout will serve as a key feature of a Matchroom Boxing card headlined by IBF Super Welterweight Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and Josh Kelly.
Turhan rose to prominence in 2025 as she scored three consecutive knockouts against Shauna Browne, Rima Ayadi, and then-IBF Lightweight Champion Beatriz Ferreira. Now, as a world champion, she is often linked to potential fights against the likes of Caroline Dubois, Alycia Baumgardner, and Chantelle Cameron.
“Elif is the hardest female puncher, pound-for-pound, no question – in fact, she is one of the fiercest fighters on the planet today,” Hearn said. “I’m thrilled to have signed Elif to a new deal with Matchroom because there are many huge nights waiting for her. I think a fight with WBC World Champion, Caroline Dubois, is one of the best bouts you can make in boxing.”
With women’s boxing enjoying unprecedented visibility, Turhan’s move to Matchroom signals a potential shift in the lightweight power structure. While Most Valuable Promotions has dominated the conversation, Matchroom now has a champion capable of anchoring the division around elite-level matchups and genuine unification intrigue.
