Cecilia "First Lady" Braekhus

Yes, we're all even more skeptical of women's boxing than we are of the WNBA.

This heavy-handed Norwegian-based Colombian beauty just might be the one to change some minds.

With her fifth successful defense of the unified WBA & WBC women's welterweight titles, she improves this weekend to 16-0 (4), which is great for her gender and especially so having been in with world-class opponents. Her deceptive KO ratio of only 25% seems low but bear in mind that stoppages are relatively rare among females (roughly as rare as in the amateurs for males). Remember also that the clearly explosive power of Hozumi Hasegawa didn't begin to manifest itself on his record until later in his career. Punchers are born, but they sometimes also have to be made.

Check out some of her recent victories, including her show-stealing flattening of Mikaela Lauren on the Sylvester-Oral undercard.


Last September, against then-unbeaten knockout artist Lucia Morelli:
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Last month, against Mikaela Lauren:
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Tonight, against Eva Halasi:
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She's got a very patient, serpentine quality about her - always coiled to strike and in good defensive position, and always pressuring and dictating position even if it's only barely perceptible. That she's powerful with both hands is obvious, with even her well-groomed jab clearly inflicting pain on her enemies...and she's a calm and technical-minded finisher who never forces anything (but lately hasn't needed to). What's not to love? On top of it all, she maintains a certain feminine cuteness (especially in interviews) despite having the decidedly non-dainty shoulders of a linebacker.

 

Cece was named "Female Fighter Of The Year" for 2010 by German publication Boxsport.

I don't know when Ring Magazine announces theirs, but it's hard to believe anyone of the fair sex had a better 2010 (further unified the welterweight championships, now holding three of the major belts; maintaining a healthy schedule - and all in title bouts - making three more successful defenses and staying undefeated; destroying the very highly rated Mikaela Lauren in impressive fashion and stealing the show from Sylvester-Oral (which was actually a pretty good fight).

...and she looked fabulous doing it.

She's got my (meaningless) vote.

 

You've got to love Cece's activity as champ - and her willingness to take on challenges.

After having faced and outclassed all of what count for top contenders in the female 147 lb division, she's now going to step up to her biggest challenge since Mikaela Lauren (maybe of her whole reign) in the smaller and older but dangerous Chevelle Hallback. They will duke it out on the Holyfield-Nielsen undercard this Saturday.

The teak-tough (only ever stopped by legendary Lucia Rijker) weight-climbing Hallback knows a thing or two about popping cherries. She dealt the highly rated Jeannine Garside her first loss and has come painfully close to deflowering a few other ladies as well.

A dominant win for Braekhus should dispel any lingering doubts as to the truth of this:

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(at least at welterweight)

 

:think

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That was to unify 140, where it appears she was pretty dominant...and stopping Couch is an impressive result.

I still think CB would have to be the favorite if they met based on her sharper boxing. It would be by far the biggest height and reach disadvantage she ever had, though. Interesting match-up. :think

 

Against Mathis? Sweet. Where did you hear that?

 

:huh By law, or just because there isn't enough interest for the financial support structure to be there?

 

Congratulations to Cece on being named the WBAN European Fighter of the Year in 2014 (and runner-up to Delfine Persoon, overall Fighter of the Year) and tying with Persoon as Co-Fighter of the Year in this very own forum's official poll.

http://www.womenboxing.com/awards2014yearly.htm

http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=526174

:happy

 

Rumor has it she could be facing Hanna Gabriel (http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=382780) this year!!!

I've wanted that match-up for years!!