"Long live Peru! Thanks for joining me tonight and this title goes to all the poor of Peru, to those fighters,” said Peruvian boxing champ Kina Malpartida after her victory over Halana Dos Santos of Brazil.

Amid cheering fans and hurrying photographers, Malpartida thanked her coach Ivan Huertas and training team for their confidence in her.

The Peruvian boxer tonight defeated Brazilian Halana Dos Santos by technical knockout to retain her World Boxing Association (WBA) title.

She won this title for the first time in February this year after beating U.S. fighter Maureen Shea at Madison Square Garden.

At the end of tonight's fight, Kina Malpartida embraced Halana Dos Santos in the middle of the ring and told her "keep it up, you will go far."
 
The Peruvian boxer's manager Gonzalo Rodriguez Larrain mentioned that Kina will defend her title again in Peru. "In three months Kina will defend her world title again and Peru will host this fight."

He said that the World Boxing Association (AMB) would choose Malpartida’s next rival. "I think the coverage of the fight and the support of fans shows that Lima is a great place to defend her world title again.".

Kina said she was very happy to see a packed Eduardo Dibos Coliseum, adding that more fights in Peru will help promote boxing in the country.

(END) JBS/CCR/EEP