Get to know Cecilia Brækhus: Facts about the legend who conquered two divisions and continues making history
Cecilia Carmen Linda Brækhus, born on September 28, 1981, in Cartagena, Colombia, was adopted by a Norwegian family and moved to Sandviken, Bergen, Norway at the age of two.
Now a naturalised Norwegian, she stands 1.71 meters tall, fights with an orthodox stance, and is known worldwide as “The First Lady”.
She started kickboxing at the age of 14 before turning to boxing. She won the 2003 WAKO title, 2002 WAKO Euro title, as well as 3 National Championships and 2 H.M. The King’s Trophy.
Before becoming a historic figure in professional boxing, Brækhus built a strong amateur career: she fought in 80 bouts, with approximately 75 victories and only 5 losses.
Along the way, she captured the gold medal at the 2005 European Championships and the silver medal at that year’s World Championships, as well as a silver medal at the 2004 European Championships—achievements that established her as one of the brightest prospects in international women’s boxing.
She turned professional in November 2007, signed to German promoter Wilfried Sauerland, who announced his intention of making her the first Norwegian female World Champion, and just two years later it came true when she captured the WBC and WBA welterweight titles.
The defining moment of her career came in 2014, when she unified “the big four” (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO), becoming the first-ever undisputed women’s welterweight champion—an unprecedented feat in the history of women’s boxing. In 2016, she added the IBO female world welterweight title to her hoard.
For more than a decade, she reigned with authority over the division, making 25 successful title defences. Among her most memorable fights are the unification bout against Ivana Habazin, her gruelling clash with Argentina’s Érica “La Pantera” Farías, and her victories over Vinni Skovgaard and Jessica Balogun, all of which solidified her dominance.
In May 2018, Brækhus’ fight with Kali Reis became the first women’s bout ever broadcast on HBO.
In 2020, she suffered the first major setback of her career, losing her titles to American Jessica McCaskill in a close majority decision. Yet instead of retiring, Brækhus chose to reinvent herself, moving up to the super welterweight division in search of new challenges.
Her efforts paid off: in 2024, she defeated American Maricela Cornejo by unanimous decision to win the WBC interim super welterweight title. With this achievement, Brækhus expanded her legacy and proved that, at 44 years old, she remains one of the most competitive and respected fighters in the world.
With a professional record of 38 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, Cecilia Brækhus continues to stand as a living legend—an enduring example of discipline, longevity, and leadership in women’s boxing.
