Cecilia Braekhus sheds more light on her immediate future
Within women’s boxing one of the bigger bouts to be put together is pitting undisputed middleweight champion Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (10-0, 2 KO’s) against undisputed welterweight champion “First Lady” Cecilia Braekhus (36-0, 9 KO’s).
In 2019 the two discussed staging a bout and at the time both parties appeared to be very interested in making the fight happen.
However, as the weeks and months have passed the willingness of the First Lady to participate has apparently begun to wane at a rapid pace. As could only be expected there are countless people who attribute this to a certain level of fear while others understand the welterweight has more opportunities available in her immediate future after signing a deal with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN.
While this may be a common theory, Braekhus assures that it is not the truth.
IN IT FOR THE SCALPS, NOT THE MONEY
During a recent back and forth exchange between the two on social media Shields questioned why Braekhus would be looking anywhere else for a potential fight.
For the Flint, Michigan native Braekhus would not be able to find a better payday with any other female fighter. Yet, when the welterweight champion responded she stated that DAZN had presented her a deal too good to pass up.
Obviously Shields, like most people, assumed that this deal was so prime due to the financial aspects. This is why T-Rex rapidly responded by saying once again it was highly unlikely that the First Lady could find a higher economic payday without facing her.
However, in a recent interview with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, it turns out that Braekhus might not be as focused on the money as most think.
“I think I pointed out to everyone why this is not happening right now because I am in a foursome that is quite extraordinary.
“Like this mini-tournament with me, [Jessica] McCaskill, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano and that’s something that you know it would take a lot to drag me away from this. To be a part of this all world champion, all potential Hall of Famers, it’s quite an astonishing situation right now in women’s boxing.
“And for me starting out when we were not allowed to go to the Olympics and yes with the whole boxing scene being quite different, I think for me this is a little bit different maybe than the girls who went to the Olympics and then went straight to the big promoters and TV screens.
“I think this has a little bit different meaning for me being a part of all this.”
NOT HATE HERE
Listening to the importance that Braekhus has placed on simply participating in the unofficial tournament it does help put the finances in more perspective. Therefore, even though Shields has been relentless in taking shots at the First Lady, Braekhus maintains that she harbors no negative feelings toward the fellow undisputed champ.
If anything she has maintained the same level of respect for the accomplished young champion.
“I think that she has a little bit crush on me! No, but what you said there I 100% agree, Claressa is good for boxing. She brings excitement and she brings the fans in and they get very caught up in the whole thing.
“So she is a good thing for boxing. She’s still young and she’s still learning how things working out. You know I’ve been doing this for a while now so of course I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and it’s not the first time that I have been in tough weather.”
Now that Braekhus has clarified her position a bit more, and extended her accolades to Shields, it will be interesting to see how T-Rex responds. Out of this whole ongoing exchange one thing that has been determined is Shields will see the interview and she will without question have something to say!
Stay tuned to 3kingsboxing for all the latest boxing news and updates.
By: Bakari Simpson
