Turhan vs Gentzen Predictions: Matchroom’s knockout queen is one to watch

WBA interim super feather and IBF lightweight titlist Elif Nur Turhan defends the latter crown this Saturday, January 31 against Taylah Gentzen. The fight takes place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on the undercard of IBF super welterweight kingpin Bakhram Murtazaliev against Sunderland’s Josh Kelly. DAZN will screen the event live.

Keep reading for my Turhan vs Gentzen predictions ahead of this world title affair.

Turhan vs Gentzen Odds

Turhan is priced at a beefy 1/20 to get the win in Newcastle. Gentzen is your 10/1 underdog while the draw is on the market at 20/1.

Turhan vs Gentzen Fight Preview

Matchroom are very excited about Turhan and it is easy to see why. In her two most recent fights, the Turkish star has won world belts at two weights. Thrillingly, both of those championship victories came via knockout. 

Turhan stopped unbeaten Rima Ayadi in six rounds to claim the WBA interim super bantamweight title. Then, in her last outing, the 30-year-old finished Beatriz Ferreira in five rounds to win the IBF gold at featherweight. 

Knockout power is a sure-fire way to stand out in this game, especially on the female side where stoppages are less common. Turhan has built a reputation as a potential box-office attraction through her knockouts at the elite level. It is one thing stopping opponents as you rise through the ranks, but power is a coveted commodity in world title fights.

The unenviable role of opponent goes to Gentzen, an 8-1 hope from Australia. Her sole defeat came opposite Irish southpaw Shauna Browne. The foreboding trivia here is that Browne’s only professional defeat came by first round knockout to…wait for it… Turhan.

Of course styles make fights and one cannot write Gentzen off on the strength of her single conqueror having been cleaned out by Saturday’s opponent. Boxing is more complex than that. One fighter’s quarry is another’s Kryptonite.

Experience feels like as big a factor as power here. Turhan has 12 fights to Gentzen’s eight and they have been of a far higher level. The Istanbul puncher beat Edith Soledad Mathysse in just her fifth fight. Mathysse has been in with the best and tested them all, but Turhan walked out of that baptism of fire with the WBF belt. 

Turhan has fought in scheduled 10-rounders on six occasions, going the distance in three of them. Gentzen has two 10-rounders on her ledger, the loss to Browne and a unanimous decision win over Italy’s Nadia Flalhi.

A step up in class for Gentzen and a potential showcase for Turhan. The Matchroom machine believe in this girl and, if she performs like she has been recently, she’ll make a believer out of you as well.

Turhan vs Gentzen Full Card

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly 

Josh Padley vs Jaouad Belmehdi 

Elif Nur Turhan vs Taylah Gentzen 

Josh Blenkiron vs Robbie Colman 

Leo Atang vs Amine Boucetta 

Bradley Casey vs Lee Roberts 

Lee Rogers vs TBA 

Kiaran MacDonald vs TBA

Turhan vs Gentzen Prediction

Gentzen is a fair challenger for the title but does not feel like a champion in waiting. Turhan should be able to turn the screw and get her opponent out of there. I’m backing Turhan in rounds 7-8 at 10/1.