From a Kostya Tszyu lookalike boyfriend to silencing the haters, Ebanie Bridges tells her story
I’VE GOT a black belt in Kenpo Karate and I did kickboxing and Muay Thai all through my teenagers. When it comes to boxing, I’d at all times been into it, however once I reached my teenagers, that’s once I grew to become a correct boxing fan. On the time Kostya Tszyu was preventing and he was my hero. I even dated a man with a Kostya Tszyu rat tail as a result of I assumed it was actually cool! As for boxing coaching, nicely, that didn’t occur for quite a few years.
I’ve a Bachelor’s [degree] in arithmetic and Grasp’s in educating arithmetic. I graduated within the high 10 per cent in my class and acquired a Dean’s Advantage in my Grasp’s diploma at Western Sydney Uni.
However I’m not likely the knowledgeable in languages that many individuals have been making me out to be. I solely truly converse three languages, however each time it will get talked about within the media individuals hold including some! I made a joke just lately and mentioned, ‘I converse, English, Australian, Portuguese, Spanish and Westie, which is western Sydney slang.’ Then I did an interview the opposite day they usually requested, ‘You converse seven languages?’ Each time, they add an additional couple… The reality is I converse English, Spanish and Portuguese.
I used to be lifting weights for about 10 years however I used to be competing for about seven or eight [years]. It helped my boxing immensely. Bodybuilding is subsequent stage hardcore mentality. It instilled this unimaginable self-discipline and drive to push past my limits bodily and mentally. While you’re in ache, you’ve acquired to maintain pushing and discover a option to hold getting into bodybuilding. I’d be in tears as a result of I’d be pushing my physique so onerous.
My beginner file was 26-4, I used to be the two-time Australian Golden Gloves bantamweight champion, and that was all within the area of two years. By the point I used to be 32, I wished to show skilled. I wished to crack individuals with little gloves and with out the headgear, which I hated. I used to be by no means within the amateurs. It was at all times about turning skilled sooner or later. Age don’t imply shit. I knew what I wished to do and wasn’t going to let anyone cease me.
Inside two years I used to be preventing Shannon Courtenay for the vacant WBA title. I acquired advised in regards to the [April 2021] Shannon battle per week earlier than my battle with Carol Earl, so I didn’t actually give it some thought an excessive amount of as a result of I knew I needed to get via Carol first and I’m at all times centered on the opponent in entrance of me. I beat Carol after which had a lot to kind out in two days as I needed to organise every thing for the Shannon battle, which was solely 4 weeks later. I flew out immediately for the subsequent three weeks to Philadelphia after which over to the UK.
After [losing a 10-round decision to Courtenay] I stayed within the UK for a few weeks and toured round assembly the followers as a result of it was my first time within the UK. I wished to provide again to them for his or her unimaginable assist. The intention was to then head again to the US however I couldn’t due to the pandemic, so I flew to Mexico for 2 weeks and skilled with former WBC bantamweight champion, “Barbie” [Mariana] Juárez. I then I did my camp for Bec Connolly in Philadelphia, however I couldn’t get again to America after that battle, so I needed to keep within the UK. I wanted someplace to coach and ended up with my good friend Enzo Maccarinelli for the subsequent 4 weeks for my battle towards Mailys Gangloff. My American workforce came to visit for the battle, then afterwards I went dwelling with my busted up hand and took half within the TV programme, SAS Australia.
I met Mark Tibbs within the bubble in battle camp once I fought Bec Connolly and he congratulated me on the Shannon Courtenay battle. He didn’t assume I’d be in with an opportunity towards Shannon however he was impressed with my model and dedication. I actually favored his vitality and character and I knew of the Tibbs household and their observe file.
Then after the Bec battle I acquired caught within the UK so I requested Mark if I might practice with him for a few days earlier than I headed out to Wales. I went right down to the health club and I actually favored the entire vibe and cherished what Mark was educating me.
Then, after the Gangloff battle, I got here again to England once more and requested Mark if I might practice with him for a few weeks. To get the perfect out of my profession I wanted to have someplace the place I might settle within the UK. I didn’t need to be coaching in three completely different time zones adjusting to a few completely different nations and altitudes in a single camp, particularly on the stage I used to be going to be preventing at. In these couple of weeks me and Mark gelled very nicely and I learnt a lot. That’s once I requested if he might practice me for the María Román battle.
As a result of I’m so robust, numerous trainers sort of get mesmerised by the facility and deal with that. They’d at all times mentioned, hold going ahead, be relentless and don’t step again, whereas Mark acquired me to deal with the jab, utilizing motion and sticking to a gameplan as an alternative of simply attempting to bundle opponents. He loves the Mexican model of preventing, which I’ve, however he additionally is aware of his boxing and is ready to carry the 2 collectively. Although the within preventing is my bread and butter, there’s at all times room for enchancment and he was capable of assist with that. What he mentioned all made sense and I trusted him with technique. Within the health club I’d ask him about every thing he was educating, not as a result of I used to be attempting to query him, however as a result of I wished to completely perceive. I must have that point to query, course of and perceive what I’m being taught. Within the health club I’m studying, however in relation to the battle I simply f**king do it, as a result of I do know it really works.
I felt good in there [against Román] and thought I used to be profitable. Ladies’s boxing is fought at the next tempo because of two-minute rounds and Mark wished me to tempo myself and take my time. I didn’t really feel I wanted to as a result of I felt I might have gone on the tempo I began and lasted all night time. However that have of his is invaluable and I didn’t thoughts that as a result of I used to be capable of showcase my boxing, not simply my energy. I used to be staying at vary extra, conserving vitality, whereas I might have usually been glad to face there and pummel the entire battle. Doing what I did underneath Mark’s directions proved to me that it was okay to battle that manner and nonetheless win.
I’ve at all times believed in myself. It sounds good to have that [IBF] title subsequent to my identify.
It will be completely different if Shannon and I fought once more. I feel she’d run much more after seeing the Román battle. She would keep away from being dragged right into a battle at any price to attempt to outbox me. It wouldn’t matter although as a result of we had been ready for something for the Román battle and I used to be prepared to chop her down and get her on the ropes and smash the shit out of her if I needed to. You solely noticed a little bit little bit of what me and Mark had been engaged on and I’m assured that the enhancements will assist me break opponents down.
Shannon may be very robust to be truthful. I used to be hitting her with some massive photographs and he or she didn’t go down. This time I’d have the ability to draw Shannon onto photographs if I wished to and brawl if I must. Backside line although, I simply don’t see some other outcome aside from me profitable it.
I wish to battle in America once more the place I’ve numerous followers, however I’ve additionally acquired an enormous fan base in Mexico – the vast majority of my followers on social media are from Mexico. The one factor about preventing out there’s the altitude so I’d need to exit some time upfront and do a camp on the market earlier than preventing. I’d clearly prefer to battle within the UK once more, however I simply need to battle the place the followers are. Backside line is I’ll battle anyplace. I simply need to be nicely ready.
I bust my hand within the Román battle so I’ll be out for a short while, in any other case I’d be preventing once more in a month. It’s onerous to say, however I’ve acquired perhaps one other two years left within the sport.
I do know I’ve acquired much more assist now and I’m trying ahead to changing the doubters into followers. You possibly can’t deny me and in case you do, you don’t know s**t about boxing.
Interview by Paul Zanon
THE COACH’S VOICE
Mark Tibbs displays on the night time Bridges gained her belt
HER finest belongings as a boxer are her energy, mindset and willingness to be taught – her work ethic is up there with Billy Joe Saunders, Dillian Whyte and Frank Buglioni. We needed to work on all points of her boxing for the Román battle, so transferring her ft extra, conserving her relaxed and carrying her fingers compact versus down by her hips. I additionally labored on head motion and distance, however I didn’t need to make it too complicated for her as a result of we knew that on the night time she would both need to battle on the within or battle lengthy.
It wasn’t like Ebanie was preventing for a vacant title. She was preventing somebody right here who had been a protracted reigning champion. It’s onerous to place into phrases how glad I used to be that night time. The boxing enterprise may be very painful and I felt her ache within the weeks constructing as much as the battle. I wished her to win so badly, simply to ease that ache.
I used to be over the moon for her. 4 or 5 weeks out from battle date it was excellent, however you by no means know with a fighter if it’s all going to click on that nicely on the night time. I used to be praying it might and it did. She did actually, very well. She’s acquired a large coronary heart and he or she’ll do even higher subsequent time as a result of it’s all beginning to come collectively properly. If she was to battle extra at lengthy vary it truly fits her. She simply must imagine in it a little bit bit extra.
You positive ain’t seen the perfect of her but.
