Linn Sandström talks World Title fight and crazy comeback in Thailand: “Panic!”

Linn Sandström. Photo: Stefan Romare

With the WBA Inter Continental, WBA Asia, WBC Australasia titles to her name, Linn Sandström is one of the most accomplished Swedish pro boxers right now.

On April 24 she will take on the Argentinian WBA super flyweight world champion Clara Lescurat in a long-awaited world title fight. The title bout will take place in Sydney, Australia, and is scheduled for ten rounds of action.

In an exclusive interview with Frontkick the Swedish title challenger discusses world titles, injuries and a crazy comeback in Thailand.

“We had our eyes on Clara Lescurat for a long time,” Sandström says. “I won titles in the WBA before and got asked to fight her in May last year. We only got three weeks notice but accepted. Something happened there and I ended up fighting in Sweden instead.”

“However, when I injured my hamstring this summer Lescurat wished me speedy recovery and we started texting. When I told her I wanted to fight her we went on negotiating and the terms were finally done in February.”

What’s the key to win the title?

“Lescurat is a very fit boxer, a physical boxer, but there are areas where I’m the better boxer. My goal is to be as well trained as possible. I have to match her physically because it will be a high pace fight, but I’m a more technical boxer than her.”

“Two days after the surgery I was back in the gym”

After the fight in Sweden last May, Linn Sandström felt she was on a high level and wanted to stay active. Her intention was to get back in the ring as soon as possible to eventually land a title bout. However, just a few weeks after the fight everything turned upside down as she tore her hamstring during training.

“I had a rehab team on site and got a surgery just a week after the injury, by a top surgeon in Sydney. Two days after the surgery I was back in the gym. I trained on one leg, five-six hours a day, working on my upper body,” Sandström laughs.

She had a training camp in Los Angeles planned eight weeks after the injury but no one believed she would be able to recover so soon. However, eight weeks after she tore her hamstring the stubborn Swede landed in LA, ready to get into the shape of her life.

“People said they never saw a faster recovery after that kind of injury. I love to prove people wrong, I have done it my whole life. Even the surgeon said he didn’t believe in the ‘hocus pocus’ at the recovery center. But my results show that I’m even better now than before the injury.”

Linn Sandström in the main event at ABP Fight Night 9. Photo: Stefan Romare

Linn Sandström made a crazy comeback in Thailand

In January, the 32-year-old Swede returned to action after her injury for a tune-up fight in Thailand. She faced Arisara Manopchai, who was supposed to be an easy opponent, but turned out to be nothing but a nightmare.

“She was the toughest I ever faced,” Sandström laughs. “I punched her so god damn hard but she just smiled back at me.”

The Swede thought she was going to knock Manopchai out within two rounds, but as the fight went on, she started to panic.

“I was going to sign the contract for the world title the same night, so there was just no way I could lose. It was so much pressure, so much panic,” Sandström admits laughing.

In the end, the Swede stood as the winner via decision and her dream of winning a world title still lives. Right now, Clara Lescurat is the only person between her and becoming a world champion in Sydney on April 24.

Read more: Boxing Guide: Every World Heavyweight Champion between 1885-2024

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