Ebanie Bridges: “I think I stop her.”

Ebanie Bridges: “I think I stop her.”

‘It is some story, it seemed impossible to some, but when you blend a vision and hard work, Bridges is living proof of what can be achieved.’

My words in March after Ebanie Bridges had proved a lot of people wrong, and herself right, when she relieved the long-reigning Maria Cecilia Roman of her IBF bantamweight title.

It always seemed an outcome against all likely odds, the former car mechanic, bodybuilder, ring girl and maths teacher who switched to boxing for the next challenge. But Bridges bet on herself and with her incredible self-belief and work ethic the Australian set about changing her life.

“I set a goal when I turned pro, I want to be a world champion. I grafted in every area of my life that was needed to make this dream come true. I sacrificed so much. Cried so much. But never stopped believing.” A post-Roman tweet that epitomises that journey from would-be and seemingly deluded world title contender to a fully-fledged world champion.

Her methods may not have pleased the old-school purists, who can’t or won’t embrace the modern-day way of advertising. It’s not just about the weigh-ins, the online banter and the rest of the show that some just can’t see past. Bridges did the rounds in the early stages of her social media blitz with an endless repetition of interviews, made more difficult by the time difference between the UK and her native Australia. My first interview with Bridges was late one Saturday evening back in 2020. She did many such interviews. And it is that basic way of selling yourself and getting yourself noticed that many fighters still can’t seem to grasp. A strange reluctance to regularly update social media accounts or do interviews is still lost on me, and then you see the same fighters unable to sell tickets for their fights. And they wonder why?

Nobody is trying to force anyone to go the full Ebanie Bridges way, but everyone can certainly learn from her. It’s about finding a niche and seizing an opportunity. And making one. Nobody will tell your story for you.

And you have to remember that Bridges didn’t have that Olympic amateur pedigree behind her, and at an age where she had to move faster than most. Add to that we were also right at the start of the Covid pandemic and the world in full lockdown mode when Bridges started her assault on the boxing world. She understood where she was and the way the world was also. When the world sat still. She didn’t.

This Saturday night Bridges will head back to the scene of her March triumph to defend her world title for the first time against her fellow Australian Shannon O’Connell. If the build-up to the Roman fight was one of respect, the one with O’Connell is anything but. O’Connell has been openly critical of Bridges and has talked about doing things that she perceives as the right way:

“I really have busted my ass for twenty years in this sport and I’ve done everything the hard way.” O’Connell has said in the pre-fight build-up.

And that is fine, if they are her principles, although some of her words this week seem to contradict her own morals somewhat, then good luck to her. But if you don’t embrace and entertain certain tools that are out there to make yourself known and get yourself heard, then you can’t complain about those that do. If you stay silent you get lost in the crowd and left behind and you are making life far more difficult for yourself. Why stay invisible if you don’t have to?

O’Connell also added this week: “If you want something hard enough and you work hard enough to get it, you’ll get there.” True, but it will take you longer to get there. Don’t hate on those that want to take a shorter quicker route. Why wait?

But the Ebanie Bridges self-promotion is only part of the story. It might get you a seat at the table, but it’s the actual fighting that keeps you there. The narrative around how hard she works in the gym to fine-tune her craft rarely gets air time. It should. Many close to her highlight how hard she works in the gym. Many also choose to ignore that fact.

Bridges has also given up practically everything to chase her goal. Family, friends and a long-term relationship have all been sacrificed to move her life over to the UK after her win in March. Trust me, boxing is her life.

Champion and challenger may not agree on how they got there, but both stories are worth celebrating. Both have come up the hard way, albeit in different ways, and overcome much adversity in life. They share that at least.

O’Connell can literally change her life on Saturday night. She could draw plenty of inspiration from Nina Hughes who recently upset another Matchroom fighter Jamie Mitchell to win the WBA version of the world bantamweight title and has now been signed to Matchroom and as a result, is looking ahead to big unification fights in 2023. With a win, O’Connell will undoubtedly go a similar route. Despite the odds favouring Bridges, a win for the current champion is no formality.

Roman couldn’t or wouldn’t match the early blistering pace of Bridges back in March, O’Connell will surely look to match the fast start that Bridges will set. How she does in those initial rounds will determine how her night in Yorkshire ends. Judging the pace of the fight in those opening six minutes or so will be crucial in who leaves Leeds as the IBF bantamweight champion of the world. Both need to avoid the mistake of giving too much too soon.

O’Connell comes with much confidence, but she will face a Bridges who looks set to show even more improvements from when we last saw her. Make no mistake, Bridges is a lot better fighter than she is given credit for. And crucially, she is getting better.

The decision to relocate to the UK and train with Mark Tibbs can’t fail to be of great benefit to Bridges. The Ebanie Bridges who we saw against Shannon Courtenay will be light-years away from the Bridges we will see on Saturday night. Bridges is getting better with each fight, and that could be pivotal in Leeds at the weekend.

If Bridges retains her title the road to undisputed will begin. Unification fights with the likes of Nina Hughes and Dina Thorslund will surely be made, and if Courtenay gets back to winning ways this weekend, a rematch, this time in front of a crowd, is too good and too lucrative to be ignored. Bridges and Courtenay is still very much unfinished business.

But before those thoughts become a reality Bridges will have to deal with O’Connell. The fight can’t fail to disappoint, it will almost certainly steal the show, and there is every chance the judges will not be needed.

Roman was very cute defensively back in March and was incredibly difficult to hit cleanly. Bridges will find O’Connell a little more accommodating in that department.

“She’s going to be shocked. I totally believe that. I think I stop her.” Bridges told me recently. She might be right.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing