Jessica McCaskill was ecstatic after her upset of Cecilia Braekhus Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. Braekhus was classy in defeat.
Jessica McCaskill was ecstatic after her upset of Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed welterweight champion Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. Braekhus was classy in defeat.
McCaskill (9-2, 3 KOs) defeated Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs) by a majority decision, the first setback in the Colombian-Norwegian’s decorated career.
Braekhus was making the 26th defense of her 147-pound title. Had she won, she would’ve broken Joe Louis’ record for consecutive successful title defenses.
McCaskill is now a two-division titleholder, as she also is a unified junior welterweight titleholder. She could face the winner of the Aug. 22 Katie Taylor-Delfine Persoon lightweight title fight.
Braekhus, 38, hinted at retirement but no announcement has been made.
DAZN commentator Todd Grisham interviewed the fighters and analyst Sergio Mora gave his thoughts. Here is what they had to say.
Jessica McCaskill was ecstatic after her upset of Cecilia Braekhus Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. Braekhus was classy in defeat.
Jessica McCaskill was ecstatic after her upset of Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed welterweight champion Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. Braekhus was classy in defeat.
McCaskill (9-2, 3 KOs) defeated Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs) by a majority decision, the first setback in the Colombian-Norwegian’s decorated career.
Braekhus was making the 26th defense of her 147-pound title. Had she won, she would’ve broken Joe Louis’ record for consecutive successful title defenses.
McCaskill is now a two-division titleholder, as she also is a unified junior welterweight titleholder. She could face the winner of the Aug. 22 Katie Taylor-Delfine Persoon lightweight title fight.
Braekhus, 38, hinted at retirement but no announcement has been made.
DAZN commentator Todd Grisham interviewed the fighters and analyst Sergio Mora gave his thoughts. Here is what they had to say.
Cecilia Braekhus will be remembered as one of the best woman fighters ever and, more important to her, a wonderful ambassador for boxing.
GOOD
Jessica McCaskill’s upset of Cecilia Braekhus could’ve fallen into the “bad” category here because it’s always sad to see a legend fall, but Braekhus wouldn’t want that.
First, McCaskill deserves all the accolades that are coming her way. She overcame a horrendous childhood to become a successful boxer. She lost her first title fight to lightweight champ Katie Taylor in 2017 but bounced back to reign as a junior welterweight titleholder.
And on Saturday she fought with fire and skill to take down the previously unbeaten “First Lady” of boxing by a majority decision, thus assuming an important position in women’s boxing history.
Immediately afterward, Braekhus was asked whether she thought she had done enough to get the decision but she would have none of it. She didn’t want to detract from McCaskill’s glory or shed negative light on women’s boxing.
“I don’t want to talk about that right now,” she said. “I want to congratulate Jessica, she really wanted it. She did a great match. I am proud and happy to pass the torch to her. I have to say, I am so proud to be part of women’s boxing right now.
“If this is my last fight, I am proud that I was part of taking women’s boxing to this level. That will be my biggest achievement.”
Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs) will be remembered as one of the greatest woman fighters of all time – she made her 26th title defense on Saturday – and, more important to her, a wonderful ambassador for the sport.
Claressa Shields, the two-time Olympic champion and rising professional star, echoed the thoughts of everyone who watched Braekhus’ post-fight interview when she tweeted:
“Damn [Cecilia], you are classy!” What a champion. Gracious in defeat as you are in winning. That speech just made me tear up. Good role model for women’s boxing.”
Amen.
BAD
David Benavidez committed a cardinal sin: He failed to make weight for his fight against Roamer Alexis Angulo on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn., which cost him his super middleweight title and a lot of respect.
I think it’s reasonable to cut him a little bit of slack because of the coronavirus pandemic and give him credit for acknowledging his mistake. Still, it’s inexcusable.
Benavidez should’ve been celebrating a dominating victory over Angulo in his first title defense immediately after his 10th-round stoppage. Instead, after the fight, he was still answering questions about the fact he came in 2.8 pounds overweight.
And remember: This was the second time he lost his title on the scale. He was stripped of the same belt after testing positive for cocaine in 2018.
Let’s hope that Benavidez, 23, continues to grow as a professional boxer and a man because he has a hell of a future in the sport, as we saw once again on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun bubble.
The Phoenix fighter delivered a horrific beating, starting with his long, hard jab and ending with crazy combinations to all parts of Angulo’s body. Angulo’s trainer was wise – and merciful – to end the assault after the 10th round. Angulo didn’t complain.
Benavidez is one of the most-dominating fighters in the world, not just at 168 pounds but pound-for-pound. And, being so young, he’s only going to get better.
I can’t see any super middleweight beating him, including titleholder Caleb Plant. And I think there might a be reason why Canelo Alvarez never reached out to Benavidez in his search for his next opponent when everyone else near the weight seemed to get a call.
I wouldn’t pick Benavidez to beat Alvarez, at least not now. However, that could change in the next year or two.
All Benavidez has to do is stay focused, work hard and, for God’s sake, make weight.
WORSE
Madrimov drops Walker, but the referee rules no knockdown.
I still don’t understand the thought process of referee Gary Ritter and other Oklahoma officials during the Israil Madrimov-Eric Walker fight on the Cecilia Braekhus-Jessica McCaskill card.
In the ninth round, Madrimov, a gifted, physically imposing junior middleweight prospect, landed a hard left hand to Walker’s head and Madrimov’s momentum carried him into Walker as he went down.
Ritter ruled that it wasn’t a knockdown because it was Madrimov’s body, not the punch, that put him on the canvas. It seemed clear live and on replays that the punch caused the knockdown but, OK, that’s what Ritter saw from his line of vision.
What followed was a bigger problem. Walker was badly hurt as he lay on the canvas for almost a minute, definitely in no condition to continue fighting. He managed to get to his feet but staggered and fell again, an unmistakable sign that it was over.
And then it wasn’t. Walker was allowed to continue and took undue punishment the remainder of the 12-round fight.
Someone – Walker’s cornermen, the referee, the ring doctor, a commission official, anyone – should’ve jumped in when he was down and struggling and said, “No, no, no. That’s it. He can’t go on.” No one did.
“It was over,” Hall of Famer referee Steve Smoger told SI.com. “There was no recovering. When you are hit like a shot like that, you’re done. When you see someone [lying] like that, you stop the fight.”
Where was the common sense? Where was the compassion? Once again, boxing needs to a better job in protecting its fighters
Cecilia Braekhus will be remembered as one of the best woman fighters ever and, more important to her, a wonderful ambassador for boxing.
GOOD
Jessica McCaskill’s upset of Cecilia Braekhus could’ve fallen into the “bad” category here because it’s always sad to see a legend fall, but Braekhus wouldn’t want that.
First, McCaskill deserves all the accolades that are coming her way. She overcame a horrendous childhood to become a successful boxer. She lost her first title fight to lightweight champ Katie Taylor in 2017 but bounced back to reign as a junior welterweight titleholder.
And on Saturday she fought with fire and skill to take down the previously unbeaten “First Lady” of boxing by a majority decision, thus assuming an important position in women’s boxing history.
Immediately afterward, Braekhus was asked whether she thought she had done enough to get the decision but she would have none of it. She didn’t want to detract from McCaskill’s glory or shed negative light on women’s boxing.
“I don’t want to talk about that right now,” she said. “I want to congratulate Jessica, she really wanted it. She did a great match. I am proud and happy to pass the torch to her. I have to say, I am so proud to be part of women’s boxing right now.
“If this is my last fight, I am proud that I was part of taking women’s boxing to this level. That will be my biggest achievement.”
Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs) will be remembered as one of the greatest woman fighters of all time – she made her 26th title defense on Saturday – and, more important to her, a wonderful ambassador for the sport.
Claressa Shields, the two-time Olympic champion and rising professional star, echoed the thoughts of everyone who watched Braekhus’ post-fight interview when she tweeted:
“Damn [Cecilia], you are classy!” What a champion. Gracious in defeat as you are in winning. That speech just made me tear up. Good role model for women’s boxing.”
Amen.
BAD
David Benavidez committed a cardinal sin: He failed to make weight for his fight against Roamer Alexis Angulo on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn., which cost him his super middleweight title and a lot of respect.
I think it’s reasonable to cut him a little bit of slack because of the coronavirus pandemic and give him credit for acknowledging his mistake. Still, it’s inexcusable.
Benavidez should’ve been celebrating a dominating victory over Angulo in his first title defense immediately after his 10th-round stoppage. Instead, after the fight, he was still answering questions about the fact he came in 2.8 pounds overweight.
And remember: This was the second time he lost his title on the scale. He was stripped of the same belt after testing positive for cocaine in 2018.
Let’s hope that Benavidez, 23, continues to grow as a professional boxer and a man because he has a hell of a future in the sport, as we saw once again on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun bubble.
The Phoenix fighter delivered a horrific beating, starting with his long, hard jab and ending with crazy combinations to all parts of Angulo’s body. Angulo’s trainer was wise – and merciful – to end the assault after the 10th round. Angulo didn’t complain.
Benavidez is one of the most-dominating fighters in the world, not just at 168 pounds but pound-for-pound. And, being so young, he’s only going to get better.
I can’t see any super middleweight beating him, including titleholder Caleb Plant. And I think there might a be reason why Canelo Alvarez never reached out to Benavidez in his search for his next opponent when everyone else near the weight seemed to get a call.
I wouldn’t pick Benavidez to beat Alvarez, at least not now. However, that could change in the next year or two.
All Benavidez has to do is stay focused, work hard and, for God’s sake, make weight.
WORSE
Madrimov drops Walker, but the referee rules no knockdown.
I still don’t understand the thought process of referee Gary Ritter and other Oklahoma officials during the Israil Madrimov-Eric Walker fight on the Cecilia Braekhus-Jessica McCaskill card.
In the ninth round, Madrimov, a gifted, physically imposing junior middleweight prospect, landed a hard left hand to Walker’s head and Madrimov’s momentum carried him into Walker as he went down.
Ritter ruled that it wasn’t a knockdown because it was Madrimov’s body, not the punch, that put him on the canvas. It seemed clear live and on replays that the punch caused the knockdown but, OK, that’s what Ritter saw from his line of vision.
What followed was a bigger problem. Walker was badly hurt as he lay on the canvas for almost a minute, definitely in no condition to continue fighting. He managed to get to his feet but staggered and fell again, an unmistakable sign that it was over.
And then it wasn’t. Walker was allowed to continue and took undue punishment the remainder of the 12-round fight.
Someone – Walker’s cornermen, the referee, the ring doctor, a commission official, anyone – should’ve jumped in when he was down and struggling and said, “No, no, no. That’s it. He can’t go on.” No one did.
“It was over,” Hall of Famer referee Steve Smoger told SI.com. “There was no recovering. When you are hit like a shot like that, you’re done. When you see someone [lying] like that, you stop the fight.”
Where was the common sense? Where was the compassion? Once again, boxing needs to a better job in protecting its fighters
Jessica McCaskill defeated Cecilia Braekhus by a majority decision to win the undisputed welterweight championship Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
Jessica McCaskill recorded one of the greatest upsets in women’s boxing history.
McCaskill defeated Cecilia Braekhus by a majority decision to ruin Braekhus’ perfect record and win the undisputed welterweight championship Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
Braekhus was making her 26th title defense. Had she won, she would’ve broken Joe Louis’ record for most successful defenses.
McCaskill (9-2, 3 KOs) got off to a fast start and was the more active puncher overall. However, Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs) rallied in the second half of the fight to bring the result into doubt.
The scores were 97-94 and 97-93 for McCaskill and 95-95.
The winner of the fight was expected to face the winner of the Katie Taylor-Delfine Persoon lightweight title fight. McCaskill lost a majority decision to Taylor in June of last year.
McCaskill was moving up in weight to face Braekhus. She entered the fight as a junior welterweight titleholder.
Jessica McCaskill defeated Cecilia Braekhus by a majority decision to win the undisputed welterweight championship Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
Jessica McCaskill recorded one of the greatest upsets in women’s boxing history.
McCaskill defeated Cecilia Braekhus by a majority decision to ruin Braekhus’ perfect record and win the undisputed welterweight championship Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
Braekhus was making her 26th title defense. Had she won, she would’ve broken Joe Louis’ record for most successful defenses.
McCaskill (9-2, 3 KOs) got off to a fast start and was the more active puncher overall. However, Braekhus (36-1, 9 KOs) rallied in the second half of the fight to bring the result into doubt.
The scores were 97-94 and 97-93 for McCaskill and 95-95.
The winner of the fight was expected to face the winner of the Katie Taylor-Delfine Persoon lightweight title fight. McCaskill lost a majority decision to Taylor in June of last year.
McCaskill was moving up in weight to face Braekhus. She entered the fight as a junior welterweight titleholder.
Cecilia Braekhus will defend her welterweight titles against Jessica McCaskill on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. If she wins, Braekhus (36-0, 9 KOs) will have broken Joe Louis’ record of 26 successful title defenses. McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) is a junior …
Cecilia Braekhus will defend her welterweight titles against Jessica McCaskill on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
If she wins, Braekhus (36-0, 9 KOs) will have broken Joe Louis’ record of 26 successful title defenses.
McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) is a junior welterweight beltholder.
Also on the card, which will be streamed on DAZN: junior middleweight prospect Israil Madrimov (5-0, 5 KOs) faces Eric Walker (20-2, 9 KOs); Shakhram Giyasov (9-0, 7 KOs) takes on Wiston Campos (31-7-6, 19 KOs) in a junior welterweight fight; Raymond Ford (5-0, 2 KOs) faces Eric Manriquez (7-10-1, 3 KOs) in a featherweight matchup; and Nikita Ababiy (8-0, 6 KOs) fights Jarvis Williams (8-2-1, 5 KOs) in a middleweight bout.
Here is a video of the news conference, courtesy of DAZN.
Cecilia Braekhus will defend her welterweight titles against Jessica McCaskill on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla. If she wins, Braekhus (36-0, 9 KOs) will have broken Joe Louis’ record of 26 successful title defenses. McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) is a junior …
Cecilia Braekhus will defend her welterweight titles against Jessica McCaskill on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.
If she wins, Braekhus (36-0, 9 KOs) will have broken Joe Louis’ record of 26 successful title defenses.
McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) is a junior welterweight beltholder.
Also on the card, which will be streamed on DAZN: junior middleweight prospect Israil Madrimov (5-0, 5 KOs) faces Eric Walker (20-2, 9 KOs); Shakhram Giyasov (9-0, 7 KOs) takes on Wiston Campos (31-7-6, 19 KOs) in a junior welterweight fight; Raymond Ford (5-0, 2 KOs) faces Eric Manriquez (7-10-1, 3 KOs) in a featherweight matchup; and Nikita Ababiy (8-0, 6 KOs) fights Jarvis Williams (8-2-1, 5 KOs) in a middleweight bout.
Here is a video of the news conference, courtesy of DAZN.
Cecilia Braekhus says that Claressa Shields is not the greatest female boxer while she’s still active.
Editor’s note: This article originally appears on DAZN.com.
***
For the first time in a long time, there are several women jockeying for position as the best female boxer in the world: Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, Cecilia Braekhus and the self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time) Claressa Shields.
At the very least, the conclusion of the tournament will help bring some clarity to an increasingly intriguing and crowded picture at the top of women’s boxing.
But one name missing is Shields, who has routinely proclaimed herself as the top pound-for-pound female fighter on the planet. Along the way, she’s also engaged in a war of words with Braekhus, and it’s possible the two could cross paths at some point should they continue their winning ways.
“Nothing is impossible in boxing,” Braekhus tells DAZN about facing Shields before she retires. “But right now my focus is on this mini-tournament.”
But it’s clear that the 38-year-old has paid attention to the rise of Shields over the years. If she didn’t before, she certainly had to when there was trash talk between the two after Braekhus was seen hanging out with Shields’ bitter rival Laila Ali. Despite the back and forth on social media, Braekhus thinks that she’s good for the sport.
“Oh, she’s great,” Braekhus said of Shields. “Her road here is a little bit different with the trash-talking but that’s working for her. This is what male fighters have done forever. I’m not taking any of this personally. But I will answer her when she comes after me on a professional level
“She’s a great boxer, and there are no hard feelings.”
As Braekhus prepares to break Joe Louis’ record of 25 consecutive title defenses, she kindly scoffs at Shields’ claims to be the greatest.
“Well, I don’t agree with her to be the greatest woman boxer, because I have been in this sport so long,” she said. “Especially with names like Lucia Riker, Laila Ali, Regina Halmich in the history books. And you still have myself, Katie Tayler and Amanda Serrano.
“Let’s just say that she has the possibility to be one of the greatest, but right now she is not.”
Cecilia Braekhus says that Claressa Shields is not the greatest female boxer while she’s still active.
Editor’s note: This article originally appears on DAZN.com.
***
For the first time in a long time, there are several women jockeying for position as the best female boxer in the world: Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, Cecilia Braekhus and the self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time) Claressa Shields.
At the very least, the conclusion of the tournament will help bring some clarity to an increasingly intriguing and crowded picture at the top of women’s boxing.
But one name missing is Shields, who has routinely proclaimed herself as the top pound-for-pound female fighter on the planet. Along the way, she’s also engaged in a war of words with Braekhus, and it’s possible the two could cross paths at some point should they continue their winning ways.
“Nothing is impossible in boxing,” Braekhus tells DAZN about facing Shields before she retires. “But right now my focus is on this mini-tournament.”
But it’s clear that the 38-year-old has paid attention to the rise of Shields over the years. If she didn’t before, she certainly had to when there was trash talk between the two after Braekhus was seen hanging out with Shields’ bitter rival Laila Ali. Despite the back and forth on social media, Braekhus thinks that she’s good for the sport.
“Oh, she’s great,” Braekhus said of Shields. “Her road here is a little bit different with the trash-talking but that’s working for her. This is what male fighters have done forever. I’m not taking any of this personally. But I will answer her when she comes after me on a professional level
“She’s a great boxer, and there are no hard feelings.”
As Braekhus prepares to break Joe Louis’ record of 25 consecutive title defenses, she kindly scoffs at Shields’ claims to be the greatest.
“Well, I don’t agree with her to be the greatest woman boxer, because I have been in this sport so long,” she said. “Especially with names like Lucia Riker, Laila Ali, Regina Halmich in the history books. And you still have myself, Katie Tayler and Amanda Serrano.
“Let’s just say that she has the possibility to be one of the greatest, but right now she is not.”
