Nguyễn Thị Thu Nhi (born 22 October 1996)[3] is a Vietnamese professional boxer. She is the first Vietnamese boxer to have won a world championship having held the WBO female mini-flyweight title from 23 October 2021 until 8 September 2022.
Boxing career
Early career
Before turning professional Thu Nhi won gold medals at the 2015, 2017 and 2018 national championships.[4] In 2015 she defeated Bo Ra Kim while competing in a Vietnam vs. Korea semi-professional tournament.[5]
Thu Nhi made her professional debut on 3 October 2015, scoring a six-roundpoints victory against Bo Ra Kim at the Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.[6] Thu Nhi was next faced Chan Mi Lim on 25 August 2019, following a four-year absence from professional boxing. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 60–53, 60–54 and 60–55.[7] Three months later, on 3 November 2019, Thu Nhi faced Kannika Bangnara. The bout once again took place at the District 7 Arena in Ho Chi Minh City. She won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. It was the first stoppage victory of her career.[8]
Thu Nhi was booked to face Kanyarat Yoohanngoh for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title on 29 February 2020, at the Felix Hotel Casino in Bavet, Cambodia. It was Thu Nhi's first professional title fight and her first fight outside of Vietnam. She won the fight by majority decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 99–90 in her favor, while the third judge scored the fight 95–94 for Yoohanngoh.[9]
WBO mini-flyweight champion
Thu Nhi was booked to challenge the reigning WBOmini flyweight champion Etsuko Tada, in what was Tada's first title defense. The fight was scheduled for the undercard of the Olimjon Nazarov and Michael Mendoza WBO Oriental flyweight title bout, which took place on 23 October 2021 at the Wadong Gymnasium in Ansan, South Korea.[10] Thu Nhi won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 96–94 in her favor. She became the first Vietnamese boxer to capture a WBO world title.[11]
Thu Nhi faced the IBF mini flyweight champion Yokasta Valle in a title unification bout on 8 September 2022. The bout headlined a DAZN broadcast card, which took place at the Ciudad Deportiva Heiner Ugalde in San José, Costa Rica.[12] Thu Nhi lost the fight by a shutout unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding all ten rounds to her opponent.[13]