Australian female boxer and school teacher known as the ‘Blonde Bomber’ is left horribly disfigured after losing a 10-round match for the world champion title
- Ebanie Bridges suffered horrific injuries during loss to Shannon Courtenay
- The boxers were competing for the world champion title in England overnight
- Bridges competed 10 rounds despite being unable to see from one eye
- The math teacher, 34, draws attention to the sport by wearing lingerie
A female boxer known for using her good looks to try to lure more fans into the sport was left disfigured after losing a gruesome 10-round bout.
Aussie school teacher, Ebanie Bridges, who is known as the ‘Blonde Bomber’ in the ring, lost her first professional fight on Saturday after going head-to-head with Shannon Courtenay for the world champion title.
Despite a dominant start to the fight, the 34-year-old Sydney-based maths teacher couldn’t compete after Courtenay delivered a brutal blow to the side of her head, leaving Bridges with an immediate and gruesome haematoma injury in her right eye.
When Bridges walked out for the start of the eighth round, the crowd was shocked to see her entire eye had swollen and almost entirely closed over.
Bridges antagonised her opposition by arriving at the weigh-ins on Saturday wearing lacy black lingerie to showcase her ripped physique
A female boxer known for using her good looks to try to lure more fans into the sport was left disfigured after losing in a gruesome 10-round bout
She admitted she couldn’t see out of the eye, but her corner controversially agreed to let her finish the 10-round fight.
Bridges continued to cop blow after blow to her head but never stopped trying to take down Courtenay.
After the match critics said Bridges undoubtedly proved herself as a legitimate world title contender and commended her bravery in finishing the fight.
Courtenay was unanimously declared the winner (97-94, 98-92) but Bridges won’t be easily forgotten by the judging panel as she begins preparations for her next bout.
The fight, which was on the undercard of the Conor Benn vs Samuel Vargas match in the UK, was heavily promoted in the lead up.
After the match, critics said Bridges undoubtedly proved herself as a legitimate world title contender and commended her bravery in finishing the fight
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn said Bridges succeeded in living up to the hype she had created through her bold behind-the-scenes jabs at her opponent
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn said Bridges succeeded in living up to the hype she had created through her bold behind-the-scenes jabs at her opponent.
‘Great advert for women’s boxing because we know it’s had a massive build-up – probably the biggest build-up I’ve been involved with in a female fight – but if it doesn’t deliver, it’s no good for anyone,’ he said.
‘It was brilliant from start to finish.’
Bridges antagonised her opposition by arriving at the weigh-ins on Saturday wearing lacy black lingerie to showcase her ripped physique.
Her blonde hair was worn loosely as she posed proudly when her 117 pound (53kg) weight was announced.
She admitted she couldn’t see out of the eye, but her corner controversially agreed to let her finish the 10-round fight
The fight, which was on the undercard of the Conor Benn vs Samuel Vargas match in the UK, was heavily promoted in the lead up
Later, Bridges gifted her English opposition a pair of her own father’s underwear, a reference to the fact that Courtenay would not also wear lingerie in promos.
Bridges argued her lingerie is simply another ploy to draw viewers into the game.
‘Let’s be real. If I wore what everyone else wore, people wouldn’t be interested. I’d just be another fight. Whatever,’ she previously told Sky Sports.
‘I’m trying to bring more eyes to the sport. You can criticise me as much as you like. But if I looked plain then you wouldn’t even know this fight was happening.
‘People will tune in to see if this girl wearing lingerie can actually fight, or is she just a model? The thing is; me and Shannon can really fight.’
Bridges, who goes by the ‘Blonde Bomber’ while boxing, argued her lingerie is simply another ploy to draw viewers into the game
Bridges is a high school math teacher who also competed in bodybuilding before trying her hand at boxing
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