Boxing
Cecilia Braekhus-Maricela Cornejo: Two friends fighting for one title fight
Published
6 months agoon
LAS VEGAS — Cecilia Braekhus was set to fight for the junior middleweight world title this weekend. But when Ema Kozin couldn’t make the trip to the United States, Braekhus needed a different opponent.
Someone familiar stepped in: Maricela Cornejo.
“It will be an honor to share the ring with ‘The First Lady’ Cecilia Braekhus. I’ve known her for a while. We’re friends,” Cornejo said at a Thursday news conference ahead of Saturday’s show, which will be headlined by Vergil Ortiz vs. Serhii Bohachuk. Braekhus-Cornejo will be part of a pre-broadcast streaming for free on Golden Boy Promotions’ YouTube page.
“It’s going to be a great night. I can’t wait to share the ring with her. I know we’re both going to come out fighting for every bullet,” Cornejo said. We worked together at camp. We know each other. But I know she’s only gotten better, and so have I. […] I can’t wait to put on a great show and win.
Braekhus has long been considered one of the best boxers in the world. She won two vacant welterweight world titles in 2009, added another vacant belt in 2010, and took a fourth from Ivana Habazin in 2014. By the time Braekhus’ reign ended in 2020, she had racked up 25 consecutive title defenses, including 10 successful defenses as undisputed champion. During her career, Braekhus also won she helped legalize boxing in her home country of Norway.
But her reign ended in 2020 after losing a majority decision to Jessica McCaskill. And McCaskill won their rematch in 2021, this time by unanimous decision. After some time off, Braekhus returned in 2022 as a junior middleweight, defeating Marisa Joana Portillo on points. Last October, Braekhus drew a majority decision with WBA titleholder Terri Harper. Braekhus has a record of 37-2-1 (9 KOs).
She was supposed to fight Kozin for the WBC and WBO titles. Instead, the winner of Braekhus vs. Cornejo will win the WBC interim title and be in line to challenge Kozin.
“Kozin had some problems. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to give her a visa [to enter the United States]. It was time,” Loeffler said. “She thought she could get a visa there in Slovenia, but when she couldn’t get it herself, we had to apply here in the States, and the time was too miniature. If she had more time, she probably could have come here, but Cecilia has fought in Europe so many times that I think she could definitely go back there and have another huge fight in her home country.”
Braekhus is grateful that Cornejo stepped up on such miniature notice. Cornejo is 19-6 (7 KOs) and has won three straight fights since a 2023 decision loss to Claressa Shields.
“You’re an absolute hero,” Braekhus said Thursday before addressing the crowd. “We trained together. We’re friends. Don’t let that fool you. We’re both coming for that belt on Saturday. I’m very excited. It’s going to be a great fight. Don’t miss it.”
Braekhus turns 43 in September. He has been fighting professionally since 2007. Loeffler says Braekhus still has a lot to accomplish.
“She’s done it all in boxing. So many title defenses. She’s filled 10,000-seat arenas in Norway. She was the first woman to break the glass ceiling on HBO. She’s 42 and she’s convinced she can win another world title, and this is a step in that direction, fighting Maricela. Maricela wasn’t handpicked. She just happened to be ready to take the fight basically 10 days early. It’s a very tough fight. Some people think it might be a tougher fight than the Emi Kozin fight.”
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Boxing
BrianNorman Jr. prepares his father for a shocking comeback after 14 years
Published
16 hours agoon
January 23, 2025Undefeated twenty-four-year-old welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. he has been coached by his father, Brian Norman Sr., since he was seven years elderly. They changed course and Junior is now training Senior for his February 15 boxing match against Greg Hackett in Atlanta, Georgia.
The long-running feud between Brian Sr. and Hackett came to a head in November when the two participated on Coach Malachi’s Tru Media podcast. Things got heated when Norman told Hackett, “As an opponent, you were getting $400 to basically lose. You lose for a living.
Shortly thereafter, it was decided that they would lace them up and settle them in the ring. The event will be broadcast live on BLK Prime PPV.
Norman (17-11, 5 KO) from Atlanta and Greg Hackett (3-23) from Philadelphia will decide the result in a six-round lightweight heavyweight fight.
“I’m trained by a world champion who I trained to become that world champion,” Brian Sr. said. “He has the knowledge that I gave him. Now he can see this vision of what he is telling me, which is the same thing I was telling him. At the same time, he can visualize himself through me, observing how I respond to instructions. Ultimately, he helps himself as much, if not more, than he helps me.”
So, Junior, you’re getting him back after everything Dad’s been through all these years?
“Has it been a wonderful journey so far,” Brian Norman Jr. said. “I see a lot of similarities between me and him, mainly the drive for self-determination and the desire. It was a wonderful experience to witness. There were a few times when Dad got tired and wanted to stop and I shouted “no, two more rounds.” I have to push him, you know? We don’t like to lose – we’re both very competitive and I see that in him all day long.
“I like the way this fight turned out and it’s good for boxing,” Hackett said. “There’s no animosity here, but I’m going to hate him for eighteen minutes of our fight. There are many people who say they don’t want to go there, but we will go there. I’ve been training since the day it happened. It’s going to be a good fight. I think he’ll push it because he’s a bigger guy, but skill-wise I’m the better player. I just have to be prepared for whatever he brings to the table and make him pay for his mistakes. I will win this fight, whether by knockout or decision. I will win this fight.”
Boxing
Deontay Wilder: Warning against throwing in the towel on the fat suit myth
Published
1 day agoon
January 22, 2025Deontay Wilder is preparing to return to boxing this year and will face an opponent who has lost eleven times in Curtis Harper.
Wilder is on a losing streak, winning just once in his last five fights. The first of these four defeats remains a huge bone of contention. Wilder exploded with emotion after a one-sided rematch in February 2020 at the MGM Grand.
The “Brown Bomber” blamed everyone but himself for what happened when Fury beat him and put him through seven painful rounds. WBN witnessed the fight in the smoke-filled Garden Arena. Despite the sight, it was clear that Fury was the much better fighter that night.
Fury brought Steward SugarHill into his corner to make him more aggressive. The tactic paid off brilliantly as he regained the world heavyweight title. However, this was not what became the story of the event. Unfortunately, Deontay Wilder took that away from the “Gypsy King” with his post-fight accusations.
Wilder’s main target under his deal was Mark Breland. His longtime coach threw in the towel when the Tuscaloosa player came under massive fire and stared at his feet. But that’s not where Breland went wrong. Wilder’s problem was that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist ignored his previous instructions and never used a towel to end one of his fights.
That’s why Wilder was so irate, as he later told Brian Custer in “The Last Stand.”
“I have been preaching for five years. Never give up on Deontay Wilder,” said the former WBC champion.
The 36-year-old believed he could detonate on Fury at any time due to his one-punch KO skills.
“Deontay Wilder is never out until this is all over, because of my heart, my will and the strength I have. And yes, I really feel like he was part of it and it’s not my place to explain that to anyone. I said my peace and let out my emotions. I said it. People can believe what they want.”
Another story that got out of hand was the massive suit excuse. Wilder pointed out that he only mentioned something behind the scenes and someone in the media blew it up.
“They actually overheard something in the locker room,” Wilder explained. “I’m not justifying the costume. The costume was a bit massive. But it wasn’t enough to make me feel the way I felt in the ring. It wasn’t enough that I had no legs.
Strangely, however, Wilder blamed this part on someone who potentially gave him a demanding time. He will strive to ensure that the decision never falls on Malik Scott, who replaced Breland as coach.
Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
1 week agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
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