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Cecilia Braekhus – the pioneering female four-belt undisputed champion – concludes her storied career as a two-weight world champion.
Cecilia Braekhus of Norway capped off her remarkable career in triumphant fashion, securing a points victory over Ema Kozin to seize the WBC and WBO light-middleweight titles in what was her final professional contest.
The 44-year-old demonstrated flashes of her former brilliance, delivering incisive attacks to both the head and body of her opponent during a dominant performance in Lillestrom.
Judges awarded the bout 97-93, 96-94, and 98-92 in favor of Braekhus, crowning her a world champion in a second weight class.
Upon hearing the verdict, the ‘First Lady’ of boxing knelt to the canvas, visibly overcome with emotion, having previously announced her intention to retire following this fight.
“I want to thank the boxing community all over the world, my friends in England, LA, everyone. I’m so happy,” Braekhus expressed.
Braekhus, who in 2014 became the first female boxer to simultaneously hold all four major championship belts, retires with an impressive record of 39 wins, two losses, and one draw.
Since her professional debut in 2007, she reigned supreme in the welterweight division, defending her unified world titles for over a decade.
Her influence also extended beyond the ring, as she played a pivotal role in overturning Norway’s 33-year ban on professional boxing in 2014, adding particular significance to her retirement on home soil.
How ‘First Lady’ Braekhus ended Norway’s boxing ban
Kozin, a 26-year-old Slovenian southpaw, began the bout with intensity, but Braekhus quickly established her rhythm.
The hometown favorite connected with combinations, including a notable double hook in the second round, seizing control of the contest dubbed ‘The Final Bell’.
The 3,000 spectators at the Nova Spektrum arena rose to their feet in the fourth round as Braekhus landed a powerful combination.
Kozin was making the first defense of the titles she won against Briton Hannah Rankin in November 2023.
Her only previous defeat came against pound-for-pound star Claressa Shields in 2022.
In an unusual move, the ring announcer revealed the judges’ scores before the fifth round, indicating a two-round lead for Braekhus across the board.
Kozin pressed forward with determination, but offered little. A right hook to the temple and a whipping left to the body in the eighth appeared to hurt her further.
As Braekhus entered the final round, her composure remained unwavering, yet she displayed a clear resolve to deliver a memorable performance, continuing to throw punches until the final bell.
Ema Kozin (left) suffered a second defeat in her 27th pro fight
Braekhus inspired a generation of women to lace up the gloves, although defeat by Jessica McCaskill and a draw with Britain’s Terri Harper hinted at a decline in recent years.
But the holder of three Guinness World Records – for the longest-reigning female world champion (11 years, 154 days), the longest unbeaten streak (36 fights), and the longest reign as undisputed champion (five years, 337 days) – was insistent on retiring as a world champion.
The victory ensured she did just that, and it was a fitting finale for the woman who brought professional boxing back to Norway and exits the sport entirely on her own terms.
Braekhus – who promoted the event through her First Lady Promotions outfit – says she now plans to take a break from boxing, but with her experience and knowledge, she has plenty to offer the sport in whatever role comes next.
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