Ladies’s boxing wouldn’t look the identical immediately with out Cecilia Braekhus. Earlier than Katie Taylor bought out arenas, earlier than Claressa Shields demanded equal billing, and earlier than Amanda Serrano broke boundaries, there was “The First Woman.”
In 2009, Braekhus took the mantle from Christy Martin as the brand new flagbearer for the game, and he or she by no means appeared again. What set her aside was not simply the longevity of her reign however her imaginative and prescient. At a time when the idea of an undisputed champion in ladies’s boxing was virtually unprecedented, Braekhus made it her mission.
The First Woman’s Undisputed Legacy
From her first WBC welterweight crown in 2009, she steadily added to her assortment—unifying additional in 2012 earlier than finishing the set in 2014. In doing so, she grew to become the primary girl in historical past to realize undisputed standing within the four-belt period.
Guinness World Data confirmed her dominance: “The longest reign as a four-belt undisputed world boxing champion is 5 years 337 days from September 13, 2014, to August 15, 2020.” It could take one other 5 years earlier than another feminine fighter managed the identical feat.
Her beautiful unbeaten run of 36-0 was the stuff of legend, a decade-long streak that solely ended in opposition to Jessica McCaskill in 2020. Crucially, throughout that reign, Braekhus equaled the document of 25 consecutive profitable world title defenses, a feat solely ever matched by the good heavyweight champion, Joe Louis.
Going Out a Champion
Even after her first profession loss, Braekhus refused to bow out quietly. She remained within the elite dialog, at all times chasing the best stage, till she lastly determined to name it quits this weekend.
That farewell will come this Saturday, October 4, on the Nova Spektrum in Lillestrøm, Norway—her first struggle at house since 2017. She faces WBO/WBC junior middleweight champion Ema Kozin in “The Last Bell,” with the prospect to retire a unified champion at 42 years outdated.
Braekhus made clear on the press convention that she selected an actual struggle, not an exhibition.
“This isn’t a present match. It’s going to be a extremely laborious struggle in opposition to a troublesome opponent, however that can make the victory additional satisfying. I’ve already secured my place within the corridor of fame, however by claiming these two belts, I’ll be in firm with the all-time greats.”
A Historic Reign Ends in Norway
Kozin, 24-1-1, is sort of twenty years youthful and brings youth, measurement, and perception into the ring. However even she acknowledged Braekhus’ position in shaping the game: “Cecilia was one among my position fashions, and he or she’s had a tremendous profession. However I really feel nice and I can not wait to step into the ring.”
For Braekhus, whether or not she wins or loses, her legacy is safe. She was the pioneer of the undisputed period, the proof of idea that girls’s boxing might be organized, marketed, and fought on the very highest stage.
With out Braekhus, there could by no means have been a Taylor-Serrano in Madison Sq. Backyard, or a Shields headlining pay-per-view. She carried the game by way of the wilderness years and handed the torch to a brand new technology who took it mainstream.
On Saturday night time in Norway, boxing will salute greater than only a champion. It’ll salute the fighter who made it attainable for girls’s boxing to matter within the fashionable period.
In regards to the Creator
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of expertise overlaying the worldwide struggle scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s greatest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and study extra about his work in fight sports activities journalism.
