Results From “The Homecoming” – Braekhus Destroys Mathis

Results From The Homecoming – It should go down as a historic moment for women’s boxing and the sport in general as Oslo, Norway hosted a boxing event for the first time in thirty-six years. The main event was none other than Cecilia Braekhus (28-0), the women’s welterweight top gun who holds world titles from at least five sanctioning bodies, as she faced the challenge of France’s Anne Sophie Mathis (27-3-1). Nearly 9,000 people made it a festive atmosphere at Oslo’s Spektrum for the return of boxing and for the debut of the sport’s “First Lady” in her adopted home country.

At 37 years old, Mathis has been near the top of the women’s boxing heap for a long time. Her record includes a previous meeting with Braekhus that saw the “First Lady” win a hard fought unanimous decision by scores of 97-93 on all three judges cards back in September of 2012. Mathis is perhaps best remembered for her duet of fights with American standout Holly Holm, against whom she scored a brutal KO and has a 1-1 record overall.

Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer was the MC for the event, as his famous voice ushered first Mathis and then Braekhus to the ring. The atmosphere was electric. Mathis entered to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” while Braekhus entered to a live rap performance by a Norwegian artist.

The two fighters came to center ring to an electric atmosphere. The first round saw Braekhus come out using more movement and aggression than normal, and she backed Mathis off from the start. Mathis came  out in round two trying to rough up Braekhus, but the “First Lady” answered in emphatic fashion, scoring with a combination that shook up Mathis. Braekhus recognized Mathis was on queer street and she hit with a flurry that saw Mathis turn her back and go prone while caught up on the top rope. Defenseless, the referee called the fight. The official stop came at the 1:02 mark of round 2.

On the biggest stage of her life Braekhus stepped up with a performance people are going to be talking about for a long time. After the fight Braekhus celebrated saying “Apparently I am a knockout boxer!”

Results From The Homecoming

Read “Pro Boxing Returns to Norway; It’s Legal Again Thanks to Lady Cecilia” by Arne K. Lang, right here at The Sweet Science.

Pic: Mathis emotional while draped in the French flag during the National Anthem. Mathis went out on her shield.

What is next for the 34 year old Braekhus is up in the air. Braekhus is signed to a promotional contract with K-2 promotions and the Klitschko brothers and she has made it a goal to take women’s boxing to anothe rlevel while she is still active. Her work to legalize the sport in Norway definitely shows Braekhus is polished enough to sway the naysayers. Perhaps in 2017 Braekhus may look to fight in the United States as that is one of the last remaining challenges that remain for the number one pound for pound woman boxer in the world.

Th event aired on television in Norway and the production value of the broadcast and at the live event were first class. The country put on a first class event that has to go down as one of the most important fights in the history of women’s boxing.

Results From The Homecoming / Check out more boxing news and videos at The Sweet Science.