Australian IBF World Champion Ebanie Bridges Receives Top Boxing Honors

After an amazing year of winning and defending a world title and building a brand of beauty, boxing skill and banter, Ebanie Bridges has been recognized by a prestigious publication with a major accolade.

The former Sydney maths teacher rose to stardom in 2022 with an emphatic victory over Maria Cecilia Roman for the IBF bantamweight title.

Bridges then capped the year by ending her war of words with compatriot Shannon O’Connell and defending the title with a brutal eighth round victory in Leeds, England.

After an amazing year of winning and retaining a world title and building a brand of beauty, boxing skill and banter, Ebanie Bridges (pictured) was presented with a major honor by Sports Illustrated

Bridges then capped the year by ending her war of words with compatriot Shannon O’Connell and defending the title with a brutal eighth round victory in Leeds, England

The Blonde Bombers’ no-compromise mindset, disarming sense of humor, and controversial weigh-in lingerie also won her legions of fans and followers on social media.

Sports Illustrated presented Bridges with the Women’s Breakout Boxer of the Year award, with resident boxing expert Chris Mannix saying, “[Bridges] has proven she is more than an attraction, finishing ’22 as arguably the best fighter in the 118lb division’.

The Blonde Bombers’ no-compromise mindset, disarming sense of humor, and controversial weigh-in lingerie also won her legions of fans and followers on social media

Bridges was delighted to be recognized by the prestigious sports magazine and told Daily Mail Australia it was a dream come true.

“To be mentioned and recognized by Sports Illustrated, one of the most well-known sports magazines in the world, is huge for me,” said Bridges.

“I’m so proud and think it ticks a box for me as a personal achievement.”

The world champion is currently recovering from surgery after revealing she broke her hand ahead of her world title showdown with arch-rival Shannon O’Connell.

Bridges’ hand after the championship fight with Shannon O’Connell

Bridges shared gruesome photos of the surgery on her right hand

Bridges revealed that her hip, from which bones were harvested, caused her the most pain

Bridges was so confident she was going to win that she braced herself with one hand to do the work and afterwards said there was no way she was retiring.

The Australian had surgery on her hand shortly after the fight and said she would need some time off to recover.

“The operation went well,” Bridges told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday morning. “My hand is fine.”

“My hip is actually what caused me the most grief and pain. There they took some of my bone to fuse my joints together in my hand.’

Bridges also says she is no stranger to injuries and will return to the gym once she is fit and able.