Cecilia Braekhus

Cecilia Brækhus, also known as "The First Lady," is a Norwegian professional boxer and former kickboxer. She was born on September 28, 1981, in Cartagena, Colombia, and currently holds the world record for the longest reigns as an undisputed four-belt female champion. With a total of 39 fights, Brækhus has won 37, with 9 of those being knockout wins.

Brækhus made her professional boxing debut at the age of 25 on January 20, 2007, against Ksenija Koprek, defeating her via a 4-round unanimous decision. Her debut was followed by 35 consecutive wins, including 9 wins via stoppage.

Brækhus had her first world title fight at the age of 27 on March 14, 2009, against Vinni Skovgaard for the welterweight WBA and WBC titles, which she won via a 10-round unanimous decision, becoming the welterweight champion of the world. She was later named the Boxing Writers Association of America's inaugural Female Fighter of the Year in 2017.

Brækhus is famously known for being the first woman in boxing history to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles simultaneously from 2014 to 2020, which made her one of only 11 boxers in history, either male or female, to hold all four major world titles simultaneously.

She is currently ranked as the world's second-best active female welterweight by The Ring and BoxRec, and the third-best active female pound-for-pound fighter by The Ring, fifth by ESPN, and sixth by BoxRec.

A Career Highlight In Female Boxing History

On September 14, 2014, Brækhus became the undisputed welterweight world champion by defeating Ivana Habazin via a 10-round unanimous decision. She made history by holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF welterweight world-champion belts. She continued her streak of success by successfully defending the WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight titles against Mikaela Laurén on October 30, 2010, winning the fight via seventh-round TKO.

On May 15, 2010, Brækhus won the WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight world-champion titles after beating Victoria Cisneros via a 10-round unanimous decision. She went on to successfully defend her titles against Mia St. John (WBA, WBC, and WBO welterweight champion) on April 13, 2013, winning the fight via a third-round TKO.

She continued her impressive form by successfully defending her welterweight titles against Klara Svensson (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO welterweight champion) on February 24, 2017, winning the fight via a 10-round unanimous decision.

Brækhus' steady success in her professional boxing career has earned her five world titles from sanctioning bodies simultaneously, making her the first ever boxer to hold this record.

Brækhus' Professional Boxing Record

As of March 2023, Brækhus' professional boxing record stands at 37-2, which includes nine knockout wins and four world title wins. She is on a one-fight winning streak and is next scheduled to fight Terri Harper on May 20, 2023.

Brækhus suffered her first loss against Jessica McCaskill, losing her welterweight titles via a 10-round majority decision on August 15, 2020, ending her 36-fight win streak. She has never been stopped in her career, and both of her losses have come via a decision.

Her most recent fight was a non-title bout against Marisa Joana Portillo on December 17, 2022, which she won via a 6-round unanimous decision. It has been three months and 14 days since her last bout.

Career Summary And Notable Victories

Throughout her career, Brækhus has fought a total of 39 times, establishing herself as one of the best boxers of her generation. Some of her best fights and notable victories include wins over Victoria Bustos, Mikaela Laurén, Klara Svensson, Kali Reis, Chris Namús, Mia St. John, and Vinni Skovgaard.

Brækhus was also a winner at the 2005 World Championships, representing Norway and winning the light-welterweight category. She also won gold medals for Norway in the light-welterweight category at the 2004 and 2005 European Championships held in Riccione and Tønsberg, respectively.

Guinness World Record Recognition

In 2018, Guinness World Records awarded Brækhus three recognitions, including the Longest Reigning Female Boxing Champion, the Longest Reign as a Four-Belt Undisputed Boxing Champion, and the Most Bouts Undefeated by a Female World Champion Boxer.

These achievements have cemented Brækhus' place in history as one of the most successful and accomplished female boxers of all time.

Conclusion

Cecilia Brækhus is a legend in the world of boxing, with a staggering professional record of 37 wins and only two losses, both of which came via a decision. She is a five-time world title champion, including a four-belt undisputed welterweight champion, and is recognized by the Guinness World Records for her remarkable achievements in the sport.

Her career highlights and notable victories include her win over Vinni Skovgaard in her first world title fight, her four-title accomplishment, and her recognition as the Longest Reigning Female Boxing Champion, the Longest Reign as a Four-Belt Undisputed Boxing Champion, and the Most Bouts Undefeated by a Female World Champion Boxer.

As she looks forward to her upcoming fight with Terri Harper, Brækhus continues to inspire young boxers and fans alike with her exceptional skill and dedication to the sport.

Cecilia Brækhus Fight Record