Ebanie Bridges Stops Shannon O’Connell To Retain Her IBF World Bantamweight Title

Ebanie Bridges Stops Shannon O’Connell To Retain Her IBF World Bantamweight Title

It turned into a street fight, a war of attrition, and in that type of fight, there was only going to be one winner.

Ebanie Bridges survived a shaky opening round to take control of the fight from the 2nd round onwards to stop an incredibly brave Shannon O’Connell in 8 tough rounds to retain her IBF bantamweight world title in her adopted city of Leeds.

At times, it wasn’t pretty, but it was certainly effective, and Bridges made it her type of fight to batter her fellow Australian into submission after eight hard rounds. O’Connell brought experience, confidence and plenty of ambition but after her early success, she was no match for a champion who for the distaste of some, just won’t go away. But even the haters need to find a little acceptance now. She deserves credit, and plenty of it, for what she has achieved in boxing.

The opening round was tight with Bridges slightly edging it until a big right hand caught Bridges in the last sixteen seconds, and the reigning champion stumbled back on her heels, clearly feeling the effects of the punch. O’Connell couldn’t have wished for a better start.

But midway through the 2nd round, the challenger already appeared to have shot her bolt. Bridges took the round and never looked back.

O’Connell was dropped by a right hand in the 3rd, and from that point on, it was a case of when the challengers’ resistance would finally run out.

Bridges was a little guilty of crowding her work but was just physically too strong for the game challenger, and she wouldn’t give the fading challenger a moments respite. In the 7th, the end looked near. It came in the following round, and with O’Connell taking a sustained beating in the corner, the referee ended her night.

After the war of words that proceeded the fight, Bridges was in no mood for forgiveness and let O’Connell know her feelings in no uncertain terms. In many ways, the sweetest victory of her career. And the best.

It was a dangerous fight, and a lot of smart money went on the title changing hands, but Bridges makes a habit of proving people wrong. She did it again and can now look forward to big unification fights in 2023.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing