Eva Wahlström


Eva Ulrika Birgitta Wahlström is a Finnish former professional boxer who competed from 2010 to February 2020. She held the WBC female super-featherweight title from 2015 to February 2020. At regional level, she held the European female super-featherweight title from 2012 to 2015. As an amateur she won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 2004 and 2005 Women's European Championships, and represented Finland at the 2006 Women's World Championships. Wahlström is the most successful professional boxer from Finland to date, being the first and only Finn to have won a world title from one of the four major boxing sanctioning bodies.

Amateur career

Wahlström began boxing from around the age of 15–16, representing Loviisan Riento sports club. She went on to have a highly successful amateur career, winning ten consecutive gold medals at the Finnish national championships, gold four times at the Nordic Championships and silver twice at the European Championships.

Professional career

After her lengthy amateur career, Wahlström made her professional debut on 26 March 2010, scoring a third-round stoppage over Irina Boldea. On 21 May 2011, Wahlström fought Milena Koleva to a six-round split draw. Wahlström won her first major regional championship—the vacant European female super-featherweight title—on 31 March 2012, defeating Agota Ilko via a ten-round unanimous decision.
During the summer of 2012, Wahlström was struck with a pulmonary embolism, which required career-threatening medication. Having spent most of 2013 recovering, she returned to the ring on 7 December to face decorated former kickboxing, K-1 and Muay Thai medallist Anna Sikora, whom she defeated with ease in a six-round UD. Wahlström made one defence of her European title on 16 August 2014, winning a ten-round UD over Djemilla Gontaruk.
On 25 April 2015, Wahlström defeated Natalia Vanesa del Valle Aguirre in a ten-round UD. In doing so, she won the vacant WBC female super-featherweight title and became the first Finnish boxer in history to win a major world title. Her first defence of the title was a successful one, as she won a ten-round UD over Dahiana Santana on 18 March 2016.
In September 2018, it was announced that Walhström would face Firuza Sharipova in defence of her WBC title, as well as Sharipova's IBO title. However, due to Sharipova's injury, the fight was pushed back until eventually canceled. Instead, Wahlström faced Irish Katie Taylor on 15 December 2018 at Madison Square Garden in the New York City. Taylor defended her WBA and IBF female lightweight titles against Wahlström, who had to change her weight class for the match and thus did not have her WBC super-featherweight title on the line. Taylor won all ten rounds.
In August 2019, Wahlström retained her WBC super-featherweight title in a close match with Ronica Jeffrey.
Wahlström lost her title to Terri Harper in February 2020.
In March 2020, Wahlström confirmed media reports that she had retired. Out of 27 professional fights, she had won 23, lost two and two were draws.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
27Loss23–2–2Terri HarperUD108 Feb 2020FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield, EnglandLost WBC female super-featherweight title;
For IBO female super-featherweight title
26Win23–1–2Consolata MusangaUD830 Nov 2019Salohalli, Salo, Finland
25Draw22–1–2Ronica JeffreySD102 Aug 2019Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, USRetained WBC female super-featherweight title
24Loss22–1–1Katie TaylorUD1015 Dec 2018Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USFor WBA and IBF female lightweight titles
23Win22–0–1Melissa St. VilUD106 Apr 2018Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, FinlandRetained WBC female super-featherweight title
22Win21–0–1Irma Balijagic AdlerUD826 Aug 2017Olavinlinna, Savonlinna, Finland
21Win20–0–1Mayra Alejandra GomezUD106 May 2017Gatorade Center, Turku, FinlandRetained WBC female super-featherweight title
20Win19–0–1Anahi Esther SanchezUD1017 Dec 2016Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, FinlandRetained WBC female super-featherweight title
19Win18–0–1Jasmina NadjUD813 Aug 2016Olavinlinna, Savonlinna, Finland
18Win17–0–1Dahiana SantanaUD1018 Mar 2016Barona Areena, Espoo, FinlandRetained WBC female super-featherweight title
17Win16–0–1Gina ChamieUD821 Nov 2015Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
16Win15–0–1Everline OderoUD88 Aug 2015Savonlinna, Finland
15Win14–0–1Natalia Vanesa del Valle AguirreUD1025 Apr 2015Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, FinlandWon vacant WBC female super-featherweight title
14Win13–0–1Fatuma ZarikaUD815 Nov 2014Steveco Areena, Kotka, Finland
13Win12–0–1Halanna Dos SantosUD620 Sep 2014Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
12Win11–0–1Djemilla GontarukUD1016 Aug 2014Olavinlinna, Savonlinna, FinlandRetained European female super-featherweight title
11Win10–0–1Karina KopinskaUD69 May 2014Urheilutalo, Helsinki, Finland
10Win9–0–1Anna SikoraUD67 Dec 2013Barona Areena, Espoo, Finland
9Win8–0–1Agota IlkoUD1031 Mar 2012Barona Areena, Espoo, FinlandWon vacant European female super-featherweight title
8Win7–0–1Zsofia BedoUD821 Jan 2012Seinäjoki Areena, Seinäjoki, Finland
7Win6–0–1Marisol ReyesTKO7, 0:2523 Sep 2011Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland
6Draw5–0–1Milena Koleva621 May 2011Seinäjoki Areena, Seinäjoki, Finland
5Win5–0Kristine ShergoldUD64 Mar 2011Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
4Win4–0Nacera BaghdadUD627 Nov 2010Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland
3Win3–0Nadezhda Manakova5, 0:014 Sep 2010Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland
2Win2–0Zsofia Bedo411 May 2010Varuboden Areena, Kirkkonummi, Finland
1Win1–0Irina Boldea3, 0:4726 Mar 2010Töölö Sports Hall, Helsinki, Finland

Personal life

Wahlström is a Finland-Swede. She has two older brothers.
Wahlström married Finnish professional boxer, Niklas Räsänen, in September 2016. They both have a child from their previous relationships.
Outside of boxing, Wahlström made an appearance as a personal trainer to contestants in the Finnish reality television series Suurin pudottaja, a Finnish version of The Biggest Loser, with swimmer Jani Sievinen.