Ebanie Bridges looks extra motivated for her upcoming world title against fellow Australian Shannon O’Connell.
The pair are set to fight on the undercard of Josh Warrington vs Luis Alberto Lopez on Saturday night and while they may share an affinity in terms of birth place, that is where it ends, as they could certainly not be considered friends.
Bridges has excelled inside the ring in recent years, bouncing back from a first career loss against Shannon Courtenay last year to record three straight victories and become the IBF bantamweight world champion.
Outside of the ring, Bridges has also become a fan favourite due to her decision to wear lingerie to weigh-ins, but this has also garnered criticism, most notably from her upcoming opponent.
“I don’t know that I’d call her a beauty queen, more of a skanky stripper or something, I don’t know,” O’Connell told DStyleBoxing earlier this year.
In response to O’Connell’s jibes, Bridges said on the Main Event Boxing Podcast: “The skanky stripper thing, I’m going to get shirts made up that say ‘skanky stripper.’
“I wonder how you’re going to explain that you got beat by a skanky stripper that doesn’t take the sport seriously?
“No matter what, look at [Floyd] Mayweather, he’s incredible, he still has so many haters. Everyone has haters. Canelo Alvarez has haters. Claressa Shields has haters. Some people just hate.
“The real people, the people that understand boxing, that know boxing, that don’t have some personal vendetta… they can see the truth of me, they can see what I’ve done and what I am, and that’s all that matters.
“I don’t fuss too much about people that hate and can’t see it. I’m not here to really prove anyone wrong, I’m just here to be my best and do my best.
“I do feel like possibly, when I beat Shannon, if I KO her that’d be a great statement to all the people who are anti-the Blonde Bomber, especially in Australia.
“But, I’m just going to go out there and win, and I’m sure I’ll shut a few people up.”
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News Summary:
- Ebanie Bridges looking sharp at open workout in the ring ahead of grudge match with Shannon O’Connell, who described her as ‘skanky stripper’
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.