Australian boxers Ebanie Bridges and Shannon O’Connell have traded verbal barbs outside of the ring — but now is the time to settle their differences inside of it.
The pair meet on Sunday morning [AEDT] for Bridges’ IBF female bantamweight title in what will be the biggest women’s boxing fight in Australian history.
The fight, which will take place in Leeds, is the co-main event on the Josh Warrington vs Luis Alberto Lopez card.
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‘I’m shaking in my boots!’ | 00:44
Bridges holds an 8-1 professional record but will be facing quite the challenge on Sunday against O’Connell (23-6-1), who is riding a wave of momentum on an eight-fight win streak.
But speaking to Betfred ahead of the world title bout, Bridges warned her opponent against underestimating her, declaring O’Connell will be “in for a shock” if she does.
“You know, once you get hit everything changes,” Bridges said.
“Everyone had a plan until they get punched in the face and I look forward to punching her in the face and changing her plan. But honestly I don’t really think about it. I focus on what I’m doing.
“I know what I can do. I’m so confident in myself and the skills that I have, and even moreso that if she is genuinely underestimating me, I feel so sorry for her because she’s going to be in for a real shock. I don’t know if she’s just underestimating me for the cameras but if she is, she’s definitely going to be in for a shock.”
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O’Connell made her opinion on Bridges know ahead of Sunday’s fight, calling the 36-year-old ‘Blonde Bomber” a “fat c***” and a “skanky stripper” among other things.
Bridges though is looking forward to the opportunity to prove just how serious she is in the ring, regardless of what anyone thinks of her appearance or approach to life outside of it.
“Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you,” Bridges said at the final pre-fight press conference.
“She can say whatever she wants. I’ve been hearing it for years. It’s boring. It just bored me to be honest. All that matters is what happens in the ring on Saturday night. That’s when she’ll find out how serious I take this sport.
“I think Shannon O’Connell is my hardest fight and I’m taking it very seriously. I’m not underestimating her at all. I know that she’s a great fighter and I know that she’s going to come and bring it.”
“There was no one to fight!” | 02:06
This will be O’Connell’s fourth shot at the world title, describing it as a “long time coming” since her last bid at the IBF super bantamweight crown back in 2017 against Marcela Eliana Acuna.
It was not just Bridges’ appearance that O’Connell has an issue with though, also taking aim at her opponent for not opting to stage the all-Australian title fight down under.
“Other Australians have travelled and based themselves in other places,” O’Connell told foxsports.com.au earlier in the week.
“Just the pure disrespect she’s had for Australian boxing. I’ve been told she was saying if we won the purse bid, she’d rather vacate than fight again in Australia.
“To me, most Aussies that leave Australia they want to come back and defend their titles or fight in front of their home fans, especially when they think they’re as global and as big as she does.
“So why wouldn’t she want to fight in front of her home crowd if she’s an Aussie?
“I don’t condemn her at all for moving away and making her career better, but she had this opportunity to fight in Australia.
“The money would have been the same for her as it would have been here because they (Matchroom Boxing) won the purse bid and Eddie Hearn could have put it in Australia.
“She’s really disrespected the country.”
FULL FIGHT CARD
Josh Warrington vs. Luis Alberto Lopez — IBF World Featherweight Title
Ebanie Bridges vs. Shannon O’Connell — IBF Women’s Bantamweight Title
Felix Cash vs Celso Neves
James Metcalf vs Courtney Pennington
Hopey Price vs Sofiane Takoucht
Shannon Courtenay vs Gemma Ruegg
Junaid Bostan vs Aljaz Venkot
Calum French vs Kurt Jackson
Rhiannon Dixon vs Kristine Shergold
Cory O’Regan vs Jordan Ellison
Mali Wright vs TBA
Koby McNamara vs Nabil Ahmed
Follow all the action in our live blog of the fight below! Can’t see it? Click here!
