Hanna Gabriels aims to make history as first female Costa Rican to win three world titles in different divisions

Hanna Gabriels not taking Green and Gold heavyweight title opportunity lightly

From San Jose, Costa Rica, Hanna Gabriels (20-2-1, 11KOs) linked up with the specialized press to talk about the great opportunity she has this coming April 17, as she will dispute the vacant WBC and WBA World Female heavyweight titles against Mexican Martha Patricia Lara Gaytan (11-9, 6KOs) , in what is expected to be an historic fight.

5ft 7in Hanna stresses that she wants to make history as the first female boxer from Costa Rica to win more than two world titles in different divisions, having previously held the WBO World Female title in 2009, followed by the super-welter version in her next fight in 2010. She held that strap for almost three years until a shock defeat to Oxandia Castillo in February 2013, but she regained the same belt in her next fight, then added the WBA bauble to it to become a unified champion.

This is her second attempt at making history, as Claressa Shields prevented her from achieving her dream when she challenged unsuccessfully for the IBF and WBA middleweight titles in 2018, just three fights back in her career. She has always retained her WBA 154lbs belt, defending it twice in 2019, totalling four defences to date.

However, she confessed that it has not been easy, since 175 pounds is her natural weight and when she started sparring with heavyweight fighters, it took a lot of work.

The 38-year-old recalled that some years ago she met Don José Sulaimán, and in a conversation with friends that lasted for more than two hours. He told her that one day she would become champion of the WBC and that she would be a worthy representative of her country and the colors of the WBC. That moment, she cherishes with deep affection.

For Hanna this fight is very important, because she has the chance to show that Costa Rica has great potential because one of her plans is to sign fighters and support boxing in this beautiful region.

She thanked Mauricio Sulaimán for all the support and the opportunity. She also congratulated him for brilliantly continuing his father’s legacy.

Hanna is the daughter of Leslie Gabriel Binns, a promising boxer who qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

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