Raz Hershko Defeats Olympic Rival Souza for First Time

Israeli judoka Raz Hershko achieved a significant victory over her Brazilian rival, Beatriz Souza, in a rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic final. This marks Hershko's first career win against Souza, after six previous losses. The bout was the second judo match of the Spaten Fight Night event, which featured six fights across various martial arts disciplines, including jiu-jitsu and boxing. Hershko secured the win by golden score, just a month before the World Championships in Baku. Hershko is currently ranked number one in the world in her weight class, while Souza, despite being ranked 16th, recently won the Lima Grand Prix. "She is very strong, one of the strongest fighters in the category and an Olympic champion," Hershko stated after the match. "Now the record is 1:6. In judo, everything is dynamic; one day I will win, and one day she will win. I am happy to have a rival like Souza in my weight category."