Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen's campaign at the World Boxing Championships has come to an end after she was defeated by Turkey's Buse Naz Cakiroglu with a unanimous 5-0 verdict in the quarterfinals. The loss prevents Nikhat from securing a third consecutive world title. The much-anticipated match was a culmination of a four-year rivalry, with both boxers having a long history of training and competing against each other.
The bout began with an unexpected strategy from Cakiroglu, who fought with her "fists down and chin out," a clear invitation for Nikhat to attack. The Indian boxer obliged, moving forward to hunt for shots. However, the Turkish boxer expertly used this to her advantage, waiting for Nikhat's misses and landing single, precise punches before retreating. This showmanship and tactical approach seemed to impress the judges, who unanimously awarded the first round to Cakiroglu.
Nikhat tried to adjust her game in the second round, but her shots became sloppy as she fell behind on the scorecards. Despite this, she managed to land a right hook that briefly shocked her opponent, and another right that led to a point deduction for the Turkish boxer. However, the judges continued to favor Cakiroglu, once again giving her a 5-0 upper hand for the round. The third round followed a similar pattern, with Nikhat attacking more and landing more punches, but ultimately losing the round.
The final scorecard read 29-27, a result that ended Nikhat's quest for a third consecutive world championship medal. This was a crucial fight for the Indian boxer, who had a tumultuous past with Cakiroglu, including a sparring session in Turkey before the Paris Olympics. In that camp, Nikhat had stated that they were both hiding their "A" game, and on the world stage, Cakiroglu's "cat-and-mouse game" proved to be a difficult puzzle for Nikhat to solve.
With Nikhat's exit, the Indian boxing team's medal hopes rest on other contenders. The defeat for the two-time champion highlights the high level of competition at the World Championships, where even the most accomplished boxers can face an unexpected end to their campaign. Cakiroglu will now move on to the semifinals, while Nikhat will return home, left to reflect on a hard-fought battle.