IBF world female bantamweight champion, Ebanie Bridges, won her battle of Australia with her country woman Shannon O’Connell claiming an eighth round stoppage which secured Bridges success in her maiden world title defence. The fight acted as chief support to Josh Warrington’s world title defence against Alberto Lopez at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Bridges attempted to start strong on the front foot and showed her inexperience with the more experienced O’Connell able to counter effectively over the guard of Bridges along wih some stabbing lefts to the body. The pattern was to continue in the second as Bridges refused to adapt to O’Connell’s game plan and was rocked with a snappy right hook at the half way point of he round.
Round three saw Bridges continue in the fashion she was fighting and this time scored a knockdown with a one-two combination. O’Connell rose to her feet and tried to fight with Bridges but was hurt again from an upclose barrage and was happy to see the bell ring at the end of the round. Round four was an up close affair but more even as O’Connell fought with Bridges but still struggled to repel her country woman.
Five saw O’Connell take the lead and hammer the body of Bridges who despite throwing little in output in comparison to O’Connell was happy to push her back with jabs and close the distance to smoother O’Connell’s work.The action slowed at the start of the sixth round, as both looked tried, but Bridges seemed to rock O’Connell every time she landed. O’Connell landed a big left hand late in the round, but Bridges just walked through it.
O’Connell, who was badly swollen around the left eye, started the seventh round well, but Bridges kept marching through her and had O’Connell in trouble after trapping her in the corner and unloading.
Round eight saw Bridges fully take the lead in dominating fashion securing the stoppage at 1:45 in the round with referee, Howard Foster waving off the actionafter four successive hooks snapping the head back of a defenceless O’Connell.
Bridges improves her record to nine wins against one loss.
