Cecilia Carmen Linda Brækhus (born 28 September, 1981) is a Norwegian professional boxer and former kickboxer. She reigned as the undisputed female welterweight boxing champion from 2014 to 2020, and is the first woman in any weight class to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles simultaneously. Brækhus is also one of only 11 boxers in history, male or female, to hold all four major world titles simultaneously.[nb 1] She also held the IBO title from 2016 to 2020, and is currently the interim WBC super welterweight champion.[1]
Cecilia Brækhus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Brækhus modelling at the Oslo Fashion Show, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 September 1981 Cartagena, Colombia | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Norwegian | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | The First Lady | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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In 2017, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Brækhus their inaugural Female Fighter of the Year.[2] Guinness World Records awarded her with three recognitions in 2018: the Longest Reigning Female Boxing Champion, the Longest Reign as a Four-Belt Undisputed Boxing Champion, and the Most Bouts Undefeated by a Female World Champion Boxer.[3] Brækhus held the WBC and WBA titles for 11 years and 154 days between 14 March 2009 and 15 August 2020.[4] As of December 2023, she is ranked as the world's best active female super welterweight by BoxRec and the fifth best active female junior middleweight by The Ring.[5][6]
Early life
editBorn in Cartagena, Colombia, Brækhus was adopted as a two-year-old by Norwegian parents and raised in Sandviken, Bergen.[7] She started kickboxing at the age of fourteen and soon began competing in amateur boxing competitions, achieving an amateur record of 75–5 before turning professional.[8]
Kickboxing career (semi-contact)
edit- 2003 WAKO World Champion, Semi Contact 65 kg
- 2002 WAKO Euro Champion, Semi Contact 65 kg[9]
- 3 National Championships
- 2 H.M. The King's Trophy[10]
Amateur boxing career
editBrækhus fought 80 matches and won 75 of them.
- Silver medal at the 2005 World Championships
- Gold medal at the 2005 European Championships
- Silver medal at the 2004 European Championships
Professional boxing career
editIn November 2007, Brækhus signed a pro contract with German promoter Wilfried Sauerland, who announced his intention of making her the first Norwegian female World Champion.[7] Her first fight was against Croatian boxer Ksenija Koprek on 20 January, 2007.[11] On 14 March, 2009, she became the WBC World Champion in welterweight against Danish boxer Vinni Skovgaard and also claimed the vacant WBA female welterweight title.[12] Brækhus successfully defended her titles on later that year on 30 May against Amy Yuratovac in Helsinki, Finland, and on 12 September, 2009, against Lucia Morelli in Herning, Denmark.
Eight months later, on 15 May, 2010, Brækhus successfully defended her WBA and WBC titles against American boxer Victoria Cisneros in Herning, Denmark, while winning the WBO title. In a unanimous decision, the judges declared the fight for Brækhus, having won all 10 rounds.[13][14] On 30 October, 2010, Brækhus successfully defended her WBA, WBC and WBO titles in Rostock, Germany against Mikaela Laurén from Sweden, while winning the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) title. Brækhus won by knockout in the 7th round.[15]
In 2010, Brækhus was voted the "Female Boxer of the Year" by German boxing magazine BoxSport. On 14 September, 2014, after defeating Croatian Ivana Habazin, Brækhus became the first Norwegian and the first woman to hold all major world championship belts in her weight division (welterweight) in boxing history.[16]
On 5 May, 2018, HBO broadcast its first women's bout, between Brækhus and Kali Reis, where Brækhus successfully defended her titles.[17][18]
Professional boxing record
edit| 41 fights | 38 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 9 | 0 |
| By decision | 29 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Win | 38–2–1 | Maricela Cornejo | UD | 10 | 10 Aug 2024 | Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, U.S. | Won vacant WBC female super welterweight title |
| 40 | Draw | 37–2–1 | Terri Harper | MD | 10 | 7 Oct 2023 | Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England | For WBA and WBO female super welterweight titles |
| 39 | Win | 37–2 | Marisa Joana Portillo | UD | 6 | 17 Dec 2022 | Commerce Casino, Commerce, California, U.S. | |
| 38 | Loss | 36–2 | Jessica McCaskill | UD | 10 | 13 Mar 2021 | American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, U.S. | For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, and inaugural The Ring female welterweight titles |
| 37 | Loss | 36–1 | Jessica McCaskill | MD | 10 | 15 Aug 2020 | Downtown Streets, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | Lost WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 36 | Win | 36–0 | Victoria Bustos | UD | 10 | 30 Nov 2019 | Casino de Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo, Monaco | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes | UD | 10 | 8 Dec 2018 | StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 | Inna Sagaydakovskaya | UD | 10 | 21 Jul 2018 | Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | Kali Reis | UD | 10 | 5 May 2018 | StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Mikaela Laurén | TKO | 6 (10), 1:35 | 21 Oct 2017 | Oslofjord Convention Center, Stokke, Norway | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Erica Farias | UD | 10 | 9 Jun 2017 | Bergenhus Festning, Bergen, Norway | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 | Klara Svensson | UD | 10 | 24 Feb 2017 | Spektrum, Oslo, Norway | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Anne Sophie Mathis | TKO | 2 (10), 1:05 | 1 Oct 2016 | Spektrum, Oslo, Norway | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Chris Namús | UD | 10 | 27 Feb 2016 | Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO female welterweight titles; Won vacant IBO female welterweight title |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 | Jennifer Retzke | UD | 10 | 29 Nov 2014 | Falkoner Center, Frederiksberg, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Ivana Habazin | UD | 10 | 14 Sep 2014 | TAP1, Copenhagen, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles; Won IBF female welterweight title |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Jessica Balogun | UD | 10 | 7 Jun 2014 | Sport- und Kongresshalle, Schwerin, Germany | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Myriam Lamare | UD | 10 | 1 Feb 2014 | Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Oxandia Castillo | TKO | 9 (10), 1:51 | 7 Sep 2013 | Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Mia St. John | TKO | 3 (10), 1:38 | 13 Apr 2013 | Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Anne Sophie Mathis | UD | 10 | 22 Sep 2012 | Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Jessica Balogun | UD | 10 | 1 Jun 2012 | MCH Kongrescenter, Herning, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Ku'ulei Kupihea | TKO | 10 (10), 0:57 | 3 Dec 2011 | Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Chevelle Hallback | UD | 10 | 7 May 2011 | Koncerthuset, Copenhagen, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Jill Emery | UD | 10 | 2 Apr 2011 | MCH Kongrescenter, Herning, Denmark | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Eva Bajic | KO | 3 (10), 0:27 | 20 Nov 2010 | MCH Kongrescenter, Herning, Denmark | Retained WBC and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Mikaela Laurén | TKO | 7 (10), 0:40 | 30 Oct 2010 | StadtHalle, Rostock, Germany | Retained WBA, WBC, and WBO female welterweight titles |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Victoria Cisneros | UD | 10 | 15 May 2010 | MCH Kongrescenter, Herning, Denmark | Retained WBA and WBC female welterweight titles; Won vacant WBO female welterweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Lucia Morelli | UD | 10 | 12 Sep 2009 | MCH Messecenter, Herning, Denmark | Retained WBA and WBC female welterweight titles |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Amy Yuratovac | UD | 10 | 30 May 2009 | Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland | Retained WBA and WBC female welterweight titles |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Vinni Skovgaard | UD | 10 | 14 Mar 2009 | Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Germany | Won vacant WBA and WBC female welterweight titles |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Borislava Goranova | UD | 8 | 25 Oct 2008 | Weser-Ems Halle, Oldenburg, Germany | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Cimberly Harris | UD | 8 | 20 Sep 2008 | Seidensticker Halle, Bielefeld, Germany | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Nicole Woods | UD | 6 | 21 Jun 2008 | Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, US | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Adelita Irizarry | UD | 6 | 17 May 2008 | Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Germany | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Tatjana Dieckmann | UD | 6 | 29 Mar 2008 | Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Germany | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Wanda Pena Ozuna | TKO | 4 (4), 1:47 | 26 Jan 2008 | Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Borislava Goranova | UD | 6 | 23 Jun 2007 | Stadthalle, Zwickau, Germany | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Olga Bojare | UD | 4 | 26 May 2007 | Jako Arena, Bamberg, Germany | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jana Latova | KO | 2 (4), 0:12 | 17 Feb 2007 | Complexe sportif, Evere, Belgium | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ksenija Koprek | UD | 4 | 20 Jan 2007 | St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ along with Bernard Hopkins (2004–2005), Jermain Taylor (2005), Terence Crawford (2017), Oleksandr Usyk (2018–2019), Claressa Shields (2019–2020, 2021–), Katie Taylor (2019–), Jessica McCaskill (2020–), Josh Taylor (2021–), and Canelo Alvarez (2021–), Devin Haney (2022–)
References
edit- ^ Salazar, Francisco (2024-08-11). "Bohachuk-Ortiz undercard report: Cecilia Braekhus outpoints Maricela Cornejo". The Ring. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Cecilia Braekhus - BWAA Female Fighter of the Year". BoxingScene. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Undisputed champ Cecilia Braekhus honored by WBC in Kiev" Archived 2018-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. World Boxing News. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
- ^ "Longest reigning boxing world champion (female)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Female Box-pro Ratings". BoxRec. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "The Ring Women's Ratings". The Ring. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ a b (in Norwegian) Profile/Blog Blog Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine at TV2blogg.no
- ^ "Cecilia Brækhus Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
- ^ "WAKO official tournament results". Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
- ^ 2002 King's trophy recipients Archived 2014-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ (in Norwegian) Nervøs, men selvsikker BA.no
- ^ Cecilia Braekhus new WBA 147 World Champion Archived 2010-12-02 at the Wayback Machine WBAnews.com
- ^ VG.no - Suverene Brækhus tok ny tittel
- ^ Dagbladet.no - Brækhus forsvarte mesterbeltene
- ^ Brækhus vant på knockout vg.no
- ^ Brækhus first woman to unify division Archived 2015-11-23 at the Wayback Machine The Foreigner
- ^ 🖉"Cecilia Braekhus outpoints game Kali Reis, remains undisputed welterweight champ". 6 May 2018.
- ^ 🖉Mahmood, Zahid (2 May 2018). "HBO's first televised female boxing match breaking 'the last barrier'". CNN.
External links
edit- Boxing record for Cecilia Brækhus from BoxRec (registration required)
- Cecilia Brækhus profile at Awakening Fighters
- Cecilia Brækhus profile at Women Boxing Archive Network