Undisputed Champion Cecilia Brækhus Announces Retirement, Leaving Legacy of Breaking Barriers
Oslo, Norway – cecilia brækhus, the undisputed welterweight champion who spearheaded the legalization of professional women’s boxing in Norway, announced her retirement from the sport today. The decision comes as Brækhus prepares for a final fight in her adopted home country, more than a decade after her efforts paved the way for female boxers.
Brækhus’s career defied early obstacles, including being barred from entering boxing gyms due to her gender. Her success not only shattered those limitations but also transformed the landscape of boxing in Norway, where the sport was previously illegal for women. Now,as she prepares to hang up her gloves,Brækhus is focused on a future beyond the ring,encompassing writing,public speaking,television appearances,and charitable endeavors. Her retirement marks the end of an era for a fighter who brought professional boxing back to her homeland.
“I think it’s just time,” Brækhus stated. “I want to stop at the top. I don’t want to go out with any injuries. I don’t want to look back and say, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t have done that last fight, both physically and mentally.'”
Brækhus’s journey began against a backdrop of systemic exclusion. Despite her determination, early training was hampered by the outright prohibition of women in many boxing facilities. Undeterred, she pursued her passion, eventually finding opportunities to train and compete abroad, notably in Germany, where she built a dominant professional record.
her influence extended beyond her own achievements. Brækhus’s advocacy was instrumental in overturning the ban on women’s professional boxing in norway, opening doors for future generations of female athletes. “She was able to fight and get something better for herself in boxing, which to me is beautiful,” said trainer Johnathon Banks. “Although she had to go next door to Germany to get it, she came back and brought it back home.”
Looking ahead, Brækhus acknowledges the challenge of transitioning away from the intense focus of competitive boxing.”The worst thing, I think, is when the lights turn off and you suddenly don’t have anything to do,” she said. “So I’m going to stay very active outside of boxing.” She intends to initially create distance from the sport, likening the process to recovering from a relationship, before embracing opportunities for collaboration and mentorship.
Brækhus’s final fight will be a landmark event, symbolizing the culmination of her career and the progress she championed. “That’s her biggest win,” Banks emphasized. “Her biggest win is she brought it back home.”
