Undisputed World Welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus will defend her titles on U.S. soil. Braekhus is considered the best women’s boxer next to Claressa Shields.
She defends at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on Friday April 17, live on DAZN. Her opponent is unified Super-Lightweight champion Jessica McCaskill.
“I’m very excited to battle Jessica McCaskill on April 17,” said Braekhus. “She is a unified World champion and a formidable opponent for me. However, following my victory in November I only took a short time off from training and will be well prepared for this very tough challenge.
Braekhus (36-0 9 KOs) will put her 147lbs belts on the line for the tenth time having claimed all the straps in September 2014. If victorious, the Norwegian sensation will break Joe Louis’ record of 25 consecutive World title defenses.
The 38 year old’s record stretches back to her first world title fight in her 11th pro outing in March 2009.
Chicago’s Killa
McCaskill (8-2 3 KOs) will be desperate to snap that streak in Maryland. The Chicago star has been one of the great success stories in the last year of women’s boxing. ‘CasKILLA’ bounced back from a close loss to then-WBA World champion Katie Taylor in London in December 2017. She won the WBC Super-Lightweight crown in October 2018 on her home turf and then unified the division in Maryland in May 2019.
“This is a fight I wanted,” said McCaskill. “I want to fight the biggest names and the best fighters. Nothing less. My name is up there with the best in female history and I want to continue on that path. Every time I fight its exciting and not only for female boxing but for boxing – period.”
Pound-for-pound star Braekhus will be out to make history on the night but McCaskill can become a two-weight World champion and continue her phenomenal run.
