Ebanie Bridges was crowned world champion with a points victory over long-reigning champion Maria Cecilia Roman in Leeds on Saturday night.
Bridges dominated the early stages and although Roman came on strongly in the closing rounds, it was the challenger who had her hand raised. The three judges were in agreement after the 20-minute contest, scoring the fight 100-91 and 97-93 (twice).
"I feel proud of myself, and I feel extremely happy because it means everything I have sacrificed and all the work I've done has been worth it," said the new champion. "This belt represents all the sacrifice and all the training so I'm happy. She was a tough champion and she brought it so that meant I could do the stuff I love to do."
Bridges was challenging for a world title for the second time having fallen short against Shannon Courtenay in the same Leeds arena last spring. The Aussie subsequently recorded comfortable victories over Bec Connolly and Mailys Gangloff to land another shot at the highest level.
Roman won her title in 2017 and made six successful defences before losing to Melissa Oddessa Parker in a non-title bout last year. Roman bounced back to see off Daniela Barbara Rivero in a seventh defence of her belt. But Bridges made the brighter start, boxing well off her jab while Roman seemed content to stay in the pocket and trade. The challenger continued to dominate in the opening rounds as Roman cut a slightly subdued figure in the corner.
Roman threatened to turn the tide in the fourth round but Bridges reasserted her authority in the next session. The champion's corner attempted to rouse the Argentine for the second half of the bout and she did begin to let her hands go as Bridges perhaps began to feel the pace. The challenger had only gone the 10-round distance once and began to come under pressure as the fight entered its final stages. Bridges ended the penultimate round on top and was able to survive the final two minutes.
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Earlier, Maxi Hughes outpointed Ryan Walsh to record his sixth successive win against a challenger who was fighting for just the second time since late 2020. The opportunity was slipping away from Walsh by the halfway stage and Hughes refused to let up as he won almost every round on the judges' scorecards.
Dalton Smith extended his unbeaten run to 10 with a late stoppage win over Ray Moylette. Smith was deducted two points for landing a low blow in the seventh round and escaped disqualification when he landed low again in the eighth round.
Smith dropped Moylette in the final session to make sure of victory before doing so again seconds later to force the referee to wave the bout off. Aussie Skye Nicolson made it two wins from two on her UK debut by winning every round against a dogged Bec Connolly.
