Cecilia Brækhus has vowed to ‘take back what’s mine’ when she rematches Jessica McCaskill for the undisputed World Welterweight titles at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
Brækhus (36-1 9 KOs) suffered the first loss of her glittering career at the hands of McCaskill in Tulsa, OK in August, with the Chicagoan taking her titles and preventing her from breaking Joe Lewis’ record of consecutive World title defenses.
The Norwegian hinted at retirement in her immediate post-fight speech but within days of that loss, she activated the rematch clause, and now she is determined to settle the score and reclaim her property.
“I know I am a better fighter than Jessica in every possible way – I’m back for me,” said Brækhus. “I’ve done it all in boxing; first undisputed women’s champion, first Ring Magazine champion, sold-out arenas, hit one million viewers, sold Pay-Per-Views – Saturday is just about taking the belts back because I am better.
“I’ve been in so many fights in my career and I knew that I did enough to win the first fight. I was a little bit naive. I didn’t consider that I was on her home turf, I won’t make that mistake again. Those belts are rightfully mine and I want to make a statement on Saturday, I’ll be completely different from the last fight, I’m in peak shape and I am happy.
“It’s fine to do some talking before the fight to promote it, but it’s not personal for me. She started talking about me and my team 24 hours after the last fight and I lost respect for her. You can’t be offended or take anything personally by someone you don’t respect. I feel calm and I am ready to get my belts back.”
MCCASKILL: I’M THROWING A RETIREMENT PARTY FOR BRÆKHUS
Jessica McCaskill is ready to send Cecilia Brækhus into retirement when she defends her undisputed World Welterweight titles at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
McCaskill (9-2 3 KOs) ripped the titles from Brækhus (36-1 9 KOs) on the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma in August, handing the Norwegian her first career loss and becoming a two-weight World champion in the process.
Brækhus hinted at retirement in her post-fight interview before committing to the rematch days later, and now the pair will tussle for the titles once more – but the Chicago belt holder believes that the hunger has gone from her foe and that this weekend, she’ll blow the candles out on her long career.
“This is the biggest retirement party DAZN has ever hosted – there’s probably going to be cake and juice afterwards,” said McCaskill. “This is going to be it. She’s the one that alluded to it after losing in Tulsa, she seemed super relieved after losing and I am just giving her what she wants.
“Once someone shows that weakness, shows they are not in it and talks retirement, that shows that they are mentally out of the game. We’ve never been given a whole lot; we’ve taken really big risks and they have gotten us to those higher places. I don’t want to take on anyone else’s legacy, I’m building my own and making history every step of the day and that’s what I want to continue to do.
“I think she’s been struggling since the loss; I don’t know what she is going to do on fight night because we’re coming. I have a b-side mentality, we’re grinding for this, we’re not getting any handouts for this, she’s going to have to fight tooth and nail for anything.”
Brækhus’ clash with McCaskill is part of aa huge night of action in Dallas, with a mouth-watering triple-header of World title action at the top of the bill.
Juan Francisco Estrada (41-3 28 KOs) and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (50-2 41 KOs) meet in a mouthwatering rematch that’s over eight years in the making, with the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles on the line and there’s a Matchroom debut on the card for Hiroto Kyoguchi (14-0 9 KOs) as he defends his WBA and Ring Magazine World Light-Flyweight titles against Axel Vega (14-3-1 8 KOs), and it’s a huge night for a clutch of rising talents on the bill.
Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams (7-0 6 KOs) is looking to build on his own stellar 2020 performances where he won all three of his fights via stoppage in Miami, Mexico City and Dallas, and ‘Ammo’ will look to continue that streak in his first eight round bout against the experienced ‘Momma’s Boy’ Denis Douglin (22-7 14 KOs) who has shared the ring World champions George Groves, Anthony Dirrel, David Benavidez and Jermell Charlo.
Raymond Ford (8-0 4 KOs) has been in hot form, closing 2020 out with impressive stoppage wins in Florida and Texas and the 21 year old takes on unbeaten New Mexico talent Aaron ‘Angel Baby’ Perez (10-0 6 KOs) over eight rounds.
Souleymane Cissokho (11-0 7 KOs) is back in action for the first time since September 2019 and the unbeaten Frenchman tangles with Daniel Echeverria (21-10 18 KOs) over eight rounds.
