Cecilia Braekhus, known worldwide as “The First Lady” of boxing, will hang up her gloves this weekend after a career that not only made history in the ring but also reshaped Norway’s sporting landscape. The 44-year-old Colombian-born Norwegian will face Slovenia’s Ema Kozin for the WBC and WBO light-middleweight titles in her farewell bout.
Historic Achievements
Braekhus became the first woman to unify all four belts in professional boxing, and the first to headline a major fight night in Norway. Her success and persistence were instrumental in overturning a 33-year ban on professional boxing in the country, which had been in place since 1981. She often recalls the struggle of being the lone woman in male-dominated gyms and the pressure to prove herself. “I had to be better than all the guys every single day,” she once said.
From Colombia to Norway
Adopted from Cartagena at the age of two, Braekhus grew up in Bergen and began her combat sports journey with kickboxing before moving to boxing at 21. Despite restrictions at home, she built her professional career in Germany before leading a campaign back home that persuaded parliament to lift the ban in 2014.
A Lasting Legacy
Braekhus leaves the sport with three Guinness World Records: the longest-reigning female champion, the longest undisputed reign, and the longest unbeaten streak. Yet, she insists her proudest achievement was giving Norway back its place in professional boxing. Her farewell in Lillestrøm is not just another fight—it is the final chapter of a career that changed how a nation viewed the sport.
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