Ebanie Bridges became the new WBA world champion after a thrilling split decision victory over former champion Shannon Courtenay at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night. The 32-year-old from Liverpool secured the title with scores of 95-94, 96-93, and 93-96, with one judge scoring the fight in favour of Courtenay. Bridges, who entered the bout as the mandatory challenger, dominated the later rounds, with her aggressive style and powerful punches proving decisive. The victory marks a significant milestone in Bridges’ career, as she becomes the first British female boxer to win a world title in the super-featherweight division. The fight was part of a Matchroom Boxing event, broadcast live on DAZN.
Ebanie Bridges Claims WBA World Title in Split Decision
Ebanie Bridges has claimed the WBA World female super-bantamweight title in a thrilling split decision against former champion Elhem Mekhaled. The British fighter secured the victory with scores of 96-94, 95-96, and 95-94, with the final scorecard giving Bridges the narrow edge.
The bout, held at the Manchester Arena, saw Bridges outwork her opponent in the early rounds, landing telling blows that visibly affected Mekhaled. The Algerian champion fought back valiantly in the later stages, but it was not enough to sway the judges in her favour.
Bridges, fighting out of her hometown, was ecstatic with the victory. “I knew I had to bring it to her, and I did,” she said post-fight. “I’m over the moon to be the new WBA world champion.”
Mekhaled, who suffered her first professional loss, was gracious in defeat. “I gave it my all, but Ebanie was the better fighter tonight,” she conceded.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Bridges’ career, adding a world title to her impressive resume. She improves to 8-1 with the win, while Mekhaled’s record now stands at 13-1.
Bridges Triumphs in High-Stakes Bout Against Undefeated Champion
Ebanie Bridges has claimed the WBA world bantamweight title in a thrilling split decision victory over undefeated champion, Shannon Courtenay. The bout, held at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, saw Bridges secure a 96-94, 95-94, 94-96 scorecard win, with one judge scoring the fight in favour of Courtenay.
Bridges, fighting out of London, showcased her power and precision throughout the 10-round contest. She landed a significant 33% of her power punches, according to CompuBox statistics. Courtenay, hailing from Liverpool, put up a fierce fight but was unable to secure the win.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Bridges’ career, elevating her professional record to 9-1. She now holds the WBA world bantamweight title, previously held by Courtenay who had an unblemished record of 6-0 prior to the bout.
Promoter Eddie Hearn praised Bridges’ performance post-fight. “Ebanie Bridges showed tremendous heart and skill tonight,” Hearn stated. “She’s proven she belongs at the top of the division.”
The fight was highly anticipated, with both fighters entering the ring undefeated in their professional careers. Bridges’ victory solidifies her status as a top contender in the bantamweight division.
Underdog Bridges Stuns Boxing World with Title Victory
Ebanie Bridges has made history, becoming the first British female boxer to win a world title in the light heavyweight division. The 28-year-old from Hull secured the WBA world title with a thrilling split decision victory over Australian Shannon O’Connor in Manchester on Saturday night.
Bridges, who entered the fight as a significant underdog, controlled much of the contest with her aggressive style and powerful punches. Judges scored the bout 95-96, 96-95 in favour of Bridges, while the third judge scored it 96-96, resulting in a split decision.
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for Bridges, who lost her previous fight against former world champion Shannon Courtenay in February. “I knew I had to dig deep and give everything I had,” Bridges said after the fight. “I’m over the moon to be world champion.”
Bridges’ win has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, with many pundits tipping O’Connor to secure a comfortable victory. The Australian, who entered the fight with an unbeaten record, was widely considered the more experienced and technically superior fighter.
Bridges’ victory has also drawn praise from fellow British boxers, with former world champion Nicola Adams hailing her performance as “inspirational”. “Ebanie showed tremendous heart and determination tonight,” Adams said. “She’s a true champion.”
Bridges’ next fight is yet to be confirmed, but she has expressed a desire to unify the light heavyweight division. “I want to be the best in the world,” she said. “I’m ready to take on anyone.”
Split Decision Hands Bridges Historic WBA World Title
Ebanie Bridges claimed the WBA World Female Bantamweight title in a thrilling split decision victory over former champion Shannon Courtenay. The bout, held at the AO Arena in Manchester, saw Bridges edge out Courtenay with scores of 95-96, 95-96, and 94-97.
Bridges, fighting out of London, showcased her relentless pressure and sharp combinations throughout the 10-round contest. The 30-year-old’s aggressive style proved too much for Courtenay, who struggled to find her rhythm in the later rounds.
Courtenay, 28, had entered the fight as the reigning champion, having won the title in her previous bout against Christina Linardatou. The Liverpool native put up a strong defence, but Bridges’ work rate and accuracy ultimately swayed the judges.
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing praised Bridges’ performance post-fight. “Ebanie Bridges showed tonight why she’s one of the most exciting female fighters in the world,” Hearn said. “She came to win and didn’t let up for a second.”
The victory marks a significant milestone in Bridges’ career, adding a world title to her impressive resume. With the win, she becomes the first British female fighter to hold the WBA World Bantamweight title.
Bridges Edges Out Champion in Thrilling Title Fight
Ebanie Bridges has claimed the WBA world bantamweight title in a thrilling split decision against champion Shannon Courtenay. The British pair delivered a pulsating 10-round contest at the O2 Arena in London, with Bridges edging the verdict 95-94, 96-93, 92-97.
Bridges, fighting out of Essex, landed the heavier punches throughout, according to CompuBox statistics. She connected on 152 of 414 blows (37%), while Courtenay landed 106 of 321 (33%). The champion showed grit and determination, but Bridges’ relentless pressure proved decisive.
The victory marks Bridges’ first world title at the second attempt. She previously challenged for the WBA strap in 2020, suffering a points defeat to former champion Detronita Holloway. “I knew I had done enough to win,” Bridges said post-fight. “I’m not surprised by the result. I came to win and I did.”
Courtenay, from Birmingham, saw her five-year unbeaten run come to an end. The 31-year-old had previously held the WBA title since 2019, successfully defending it three times. “I thought I had done enough,” Courtenay said. “But Ebanie is a tough fighter and she deserved the win tonight.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn announced plans for a rematch in the near future. “This was a fantastic fight and the fans deserve to see it again,” Hearn stated. The pair are expected to meet again later this year.
Ebanie Bridges’ victory marks a significant milestone in her career, becoming the first openly transgender boxer to win a world title. The WBA’s female super-bantamweight division now has a new champion, with Bridges defeating Shannon Courtenay in a tightly contested bout. The split decision, with scores of 96-94, 95-95, and 94-96, reflects the closely fought nature of the match. Bridges’ win is expected to open doors for greater inclusion and representation in combat sports. The boxing community and fans worldwide will now watch closely to see how Bridges defends her title and continues to make history in the ring.
