Over a two-month period this spring, a Hungarian challenger fought two of America’s well-known female boxers, in fights that made history in one form or another. Szilvia Szabados, 26, fought two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields in Detroit in March, and just over a month later, flew to Las Vegas to fight six-time world champion Layla McCarter.
In those two months of heightened media attention on women’s boxing, Szabados’ role cannot be underestimated. In challenging Shields in her second professional fight, the Hungarian fighter was the other half of the first televised event headlined by female boxers. She fought in Shields’ backyard in a bout that was meant to test Shields’ market value in a male-dominated industry. And both women delivered.
Who is Szilvia Szabados?
Hailing from the city of Miskolc, 180 kilometers (112 miles) northeast of the Hungarian capital of Budapest, Szabados started her professional boxing career in 2014 after four years of volleyball. “Everybody was shocked when I chose boxing t at the age of sixteen,” she wrote in an email. “I chose a sport where you are on your own, a sport that is rough and aggressive. Boxing is not made for girls but I fell in love with it anyway. I made my choice, I wanted to become a fighter!”
On her first year as a pro, she won five successive victories in Budapest and Slovakia. She has 26 bouts under her belt with a fight record of 16-10-0, of which seven victories were won by KO. In just three years as a professional, Szabados has fought not just in Hungary and Slovakia, but also in Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the United States.
Szabados said she was introduced and then inspired to take on boxing while watching fights by Hungarian boxers such as Istvan Kovacs, Karoly Balzsay, Mihaly Kotai, and Zsolt Erdei, who became one of her favorite boxers. “We watched the Rocky movies as well,” she wrote, with a smiley face.
Szabados is managed by Zoltan Petranyi, himself a professional boxer in the men’s heavyweight division, who has fought since 1994 and has racked up a fight record of 55-22-0. Szabados found Petranyi the way I found her: through Facebook.
“I started to train in a little boxing club in Miskolc. After two months I asked about the possibility of going to a competition. The trainer said he does not support competition, he just trains people. I was sad, but on older trainer in the gym, Gabor Takacs (who was also a great boxer in his days) came to me and said he can offer a manager to me. And he offered Zoltan Petranyi. First I searched for Zoltan on Facebook, after that I got an appointment to travel to Budapest and meet him. After that I became his boxer,” she wrote.
After a year of going pro, Szabados traveled to Germany to challenge Nikki Adler for her WBC super middleweight belt, in a 10-round bout that tested the Hungarian’s mantle. That bout was the most difficult in her career, Szabados said.
“One of my heaviest opponents was Nikki Adler. After that fight I said to myself if I was able to go the scheduled ten rounds in that match, I can do everything in the future. I got cut in my right eyebrow that blooded heavily and I kept going and fought bravely,” she wrote. While she lost by decision, that fight might have built her reputation as a tough opponent.
Outside the ring, Szabados leads a life that mirrors that of other female boxers. She works full-time as a logistics manager for German electronics company Robert Bosch GmbH, is trying to complete her economics degree at Miskolc University, and has to train regularly to be in fighting shape at all time. She needs her full-time job to pay the bills; there are no sponsorships for women boxers in Hungary.
She trains mostly by herself or with her boyfriend, sometimes training at a local muay thai gym so she can spar with another woman fighter of the same size and weight class.
Whatever Szabados lacks in structured training, she makes up in determination to surmount day to day hurdles. She does not get support from her parents, and having to negotiate time off from work with her boss can “feel like a boxing match outside the ring.” Her colleagues know she is a boxer, “but they can not imagine what this profession is all about,” she said.
“Few know about my background, that I have no sponsors, I do not even have a head coach. I am not a full-fledged fighter at all, I can not manage to train three times a day,” she wrote.
Szabados hopes to become a better fighter over time. “I would like to box better fight by fight. I would like to mature, learn the craft from all aspects,” she noted. Nearly all of her 10 career losses have come from international fights where she said she learned how to fight different boxing styles and gain experience.
Despite losses in her last two fights in the US, we hope to continue to see more of Szabados. In an increasingly risk-averse sport, a boxer with a strong chin, a big heart and an even bigger determination is a terrible thing to waste.
Note: The interview with Szilvia Szabados was conducted via email and translated from Hungarian to English. Editing on the English response was minimal.
Follow us on Twitter @sheila_uncut and @GruelingTruth and Like us on Facebook
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, IA, KY, WV) only. New users only or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Casino, First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Min $5 wager required for 5 consecutive days. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bet Reset tokens. Refund from token issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bet that expire 7 days after receipt. Max refund $200 per day. Restrictions apply, including token expiration. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $150 in Bonus Bets *Paid Within 14 Days
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days after issuance. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 14 days. 7 days = 168hrs. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 8/23/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER OR CALL 1-800-MY-RESET, www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), 1800gambler.net (WV)
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
T&Cs apply
4.4/5
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
This site is using
Cloudflare
and adheres to the
Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted
Google's Privacy Guidelines
to keep your data safe at all times.
Close
Ready to Win Big? Join the Elite with Our Sports Betting Deals!
FanDuel Promo
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
Our Favorite
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, IA, KY, WV) only. New users only or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Casino, First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Min $5 wager required for 5 consecutive days. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bet Reset tokens. Refund from token issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bet that expire 7 days after receipt. Max refund $200 per day. Restrictions apply, including token expiration. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
Code:
Open FanDuel
Get Bonus
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Best Slots
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Code:
Open BetMGM
Get Bonus
DraftKings Promo
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $150 in Bonus Bets *Paid Within 14 Days
Newcomer
T&Cs and 21+ apply
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/NH/PR/WY). Void in CAN. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days after issuance. Stake removed from payout. Reward issued as $50 in Bonus Bets every 7 days via click-to-claim for 14 days. 7 days = 168hrs. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 8/23/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Code:
Open DraftKings
Get Bonus
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, IA, KY, WV) only. New users only or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Casino, First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Min $5 wager required for 5 consecutive days. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bet Reset tokens. Refund from token issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bet that expire 7 days after receipt. Max refund $200 per day. Restrictions apply, including token expiration. See full terms at fanduel.com/sportsbook. Call 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
