Cohen to Fight Nieto in Dubai

Dr. Stefi Cohen is set to fight Marcela Nieto on September 18 at Sport Society in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Cohen was originally scheduled to fight in Jacksonville, Florida, USA on the undercard of a celebrity match between two strongmen champions, Thor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall. Hall became injured and his replacement is a 46 year old arm wrestling champion Devon Larratt. Then covid exploded in Florida again, so the entire card was moved halfway around the world.

Cohen (1-0, 1 KO) is a 29 year old record-breaking weightlifting champion. A native of Venezuela, she fights out of Miami, Florida and is trained by Dr. Pedro Diaz. Cohen stopped Haidde Zapa in the third round of her debut last June. In preparation for this fight, she sparred with the legendary Argentine champion Carolina Duer.

Nieto (2-0, 1 KO) is a 33 year old from Colombia. She won her first fight by split decision in a 2016 bout in Panama. Her second fight took place in her home country this past February. She stopped a nine-fight veteran in the third round of a scheduled eight-rounder.

Nieto also has experience in MMA. She fought at least six times from '13 to '16 with an even record. In those fights, she showed herself to be a puncher. Though Nieto has had a good bit more combat experience than Cohen, Marcela weighed 114.75 pounds in her last fight whereas Stefi was 123.5 for her debut. Nieto will have the height and experience advantage while Cohen will boast the age and size advantage. 

Though neither of Cohen's opponents will have been world-beaters, as a boxing novice she deserves credit for taking on fighters who actually have boxing experience and have even won professional boxing matches. This bout is scheduled for the featherweight division. According to BoxRec, it's slated for four three-minute rounds.