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Cecilia Braekhus finds that when she is back in Norway there is nowhere to hide, writes Elliot Worsell
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One of the absolute all-timers right here. First ballot Hall of Famer and, prior to the rise of Taylor and Shields, she was at one point the greatest female boxer of all time. She fought everybody, made 25 unified title defenses and 10 undisputed title defenses, didn't lose until she was completely washed.
There should be a movie about her someday. A Colombian orphan adopted by Norwegian parents. Had to train in semi-contact kickboxing (against her parents' wishes) because boxing wasn't legal where she lived. Had to go to Germany and get turned down by numerous gyms before getting to start her career.
Eventually fought her way to the pinnacle of the sport and because of her boxing was legalized in Norway. An entire country gets to experience this sport because she refused to be denied. That's a hell of a legacy. -
Was always overrated, and once the real opponents came in she was exposed....Comment
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She beat Anne Sophie Mathis twice, Mia St. John, Myriam Lamare, Chevelle Hallback, Mikaela Lauren twice, Ivana Habazin, Erica Farias, Kali Reis, Victoria Bustos, Chris Namus, Jennifer Retzke, Oxandia Castillo, and got a robbery draw against a much younger Terri Harper. And that isn't even all the world champions she beat.
She was already well past her prime by the time she lost a fight.
Holly Holm also ducked Braekhus like she had the plague. The first time she was ordered to face Braekhus, Holm left the weight class. The second time she vacated her titles and retired from the sport of boxing, ducking what would have been the biggest payday of her career up until she dethroned Rousey in UFC years later.
McCaskill simply fought a washed up version of her. Braekhus beat a dozen better fighters than McCaskill in her career.Comment
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There are two schools of thought for elite women's fighters:
Amanda Serrano moved up and down seeking belts and opportunities her whole career. Won titles in 7 weight classes. To a degree, this is the more popular way to go in women's boxing. The elite level is much thinner in women's boxing than men's boxing, especially in the higher weight classes, so a lot of ladies tend to make big jumps or drops in weight just to find fights.
The other school of thought is the Braekhus approach, later picked up by Katie Taylor. Braekhus planted her flag at welterweight and simply took on all comers, knowing most of the other elite fighters would eventually come knocking. So she ended up making 25 two-belt unified title defenses, 23 three-belt unified title defenses, and 10 4-belt undisputed title defenses and tied Joe Louis for the most defenses of any major world title by any fighter in any weight division of either gender.
The only female fighters in history that faced the quality of opposition Braekhus did fight in and fight out are Taylor and Shields, straight up. Braekhus has done as much for the sport as any woman including the likes of Ali, Wolfe, Rijker, Martin, and Hamlich.
She's honestly been washed up since about 2017 or so, but even a washed version of her is a problem for the majority of fighters out there. But the Braekhus from about 2010-2016 was an absolutely elite, all time great female fighter.Comment
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Complete agree. She had no answers to JM who is as basic as a fighter can get. Decent allrounder, but no standout skills. Does not excel in any key area. Speed, power, defence, ring IQ, shot-selection. If she fought JM at any stage in her career 10 times, it would have been 10 losses. She is around the level of Terri Harper, who she drew with. Nash out - His MajestyComment
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