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 German Champs Daisy Lang and Regina Halmich Collide on Saturday
By David A. Avila (May 25, 2004)
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Two of Europe’s most famous female fighters are heading towards a collision and bragging rights for the continent.
Former junior bantamweight title-holder Daisy Lang and current WIBF flyweight title-holder Regina Halmich meet on Saturday in Ostseehalle, Kiel, Germany for the vacant IWBF junior bantamweight title.
Between the pair a collection of four world titles in four weight divisions have been captured, ranging from junior flyweight to junior featherweight. The match between Lang and Halmich compares to Laila Ali and Christy Martin.
They’ve also met before.
"We fought long ago in kickboxing," said Lang (18-2-1, 6 KOs) in her soothing high-pitched voice, who began her career in martial arts. "I beat her."
Halmich (44-1, 15 KOs), who lives in Karlsruhe, Germany, has expressed a desire to leave the world of boxing after 45 professional prizefights and consented to a match against Germany’s other popular blond bombshell Lang, a native Bulgarian who now lives in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Since March 4, 1995, Halmich, 27, has blazed through a vast array of European and American talent while collecting three titles. Her first title opportunity came in a losing effort against Yvonne Trevino (TKO by 4) back on April 20, 1995 in Las Vegas.
But after that loss, Halmich recuperated and won a hard-fought split-decision against always-tough Kim Messer on June 10, 1995 for the WIBF flyweight title. She has successfully defended the title 19 times, but mostly in Germany.
The petite blonde is Germany’s answer to Mia St. John, with various modeling offers and the ability to fight.
Lang, a rather tall junior bantamweight at 5-7, lost her WIBF junior bantamweight title against Galina Koleva Ivanova last November. She returned to the ring this past March and won an eight-round decision against Mariam Pampuk (0-18-1).
The platinum blonde is a classic boxer who uses her jab repeatedly while on the move. She also has the ability to pick off punches with her gloves and move out of the way using her long agile legs.
"I think I have her psyched out," said Lang, 32, who worked out for several weeks in Las Vegas along with her stablemate Felix Sturm, who is scheduled to meet Oscar De La Hoya on June 5 at the MGM Grand. Both boxers are trained by Michael Timm. "She knows what I can do to her."
At the IBA gym, a backyard boxing apparatus in an eastern Las Vegas neighborhood, Lang sparred at full-speed against IFBA and NABA world title-holder Vaia "Vicious" Zaganas and number one ranked junior bantamweight Elena "Baby Doll" Reid for more than two weeks. No punches were pulled during the sparring sessions that extended more than an hour.
Zaganas moved in and out with her relentless bob and weave style, constantly throwing punches to the head and body. Lang used her jab to keep the strawweight world champion from pinning her on the ropes and lashed out while moving out of range.
"Her best punch is her jab," said Zaganas whose last fight won her the NABA title. "That’s her best weapon."
Against the bigger and more powerful Reid, Lang showed her ability to block punches and move out of danger. Reid’s thunderous punches are dangerous, as her numerous knockouts can attest.
"She moves really well," said Reid, a southpaw who often tangled feet with Lang during the sparring sessions.
The arduous sparring against world class fighters like Zaganas and Reid was openly welcomed by Lang, who entered boxing after seeing Christy Martin fight on television. It was only a decade ago that women’s boxing was taboo in Germany.
"If it wasn’t for the American girls we wouldn’t have boxing," said Lang, who often travels to the United States. Now, a boxing show featuring three female cards will be televised throughout Europe. It’s expected to be a huge success.
"We moved our training here because too many people would stop us if we were in Germany," said Lang, who speaks several languages. "Over here we can go anywhere and people don’t know who we are. The people we do talk to are very friendly. It’s been wonderful. And I’m in good condition."
Lang said she hopes to return victoriously to the States with another world title, this time against fellow female prizefighting icon Halmich.
"It’s a very popular fight in Europe," said Lang. "I want to come back with a victory."
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