Norway’s Cecilia “The First Lady” Braekhus cemented her already guaranteed place among the pantheon of all-time boxing greats on Saturday by retiring on the highest note possible.
Fighting on home soil in Lillestrom, the 44-year-old women’s boxing pioneer defeated Ema Kozin by unanimous decision to capture the WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles, achieving her final career goal of becoming a two-weight world champion.
Judges scored 97-93, 96-94, and 98-92 for Braekhus, providing a fittingly dramatic, successful, and historic conclusion to a career that spanned 18 years and reshaped the landscape of women’s boxing and Norwegian sport itself.
A Challenge Befitting a Legend
Braekhus (39-2-1, 9 KOs) had publicly stated that her career-ending bout would not be a mere “show fight” for an easy ride into the sunset. Instead, she chose a formidable opponent in Ema Kozin, a fighter 18 years her junior and a reigning champion who had won her titles in 2023. The stakes were high: a unification of two major titles at 154 pounds.
Against a physical, southpaw opponent, Braekhus rolled back the years. She displayed the veteran skills, sharp precision, and relentless work rate that defined her decade-long reign as the undisputed welterweight queen. Through ten rounds, Braekhus dictated the pace, landing sharp attacks to the head and body, demonstrating a dominant performance that left no doubt in the eyes of the judges or the roaring home crowd.
This win adds the WBC and WBO super welterweight championships to a historic collection, making her a champion in a second weight class after her unprecedented run at welterweight, where she became the first woman to hold all four major titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) simultaneously.
The Homecoming That Took Decades to Earn
The location of the final bell was as significant as the result. Braekhus, who began her professional journey in 2007, was instrumental in overturning a 33-year ban on professional boxing in Norway. The “knockout law,” which outlawed professional boxing since 1981, was only repealed in 2014 following years of dedicated campaigning by the “First Lady.”
Her 2016 fight against Anne Sophie Mathis was the first legal professional boxing event on Norwegian soil in 35 years and proved to be a sold-out success. For Braekhus, concluding her boxing life in the country she fought for, both inside and outside the ring, was a non-negotiable end to her story. It was a final, poignant nod to the country and the people who supported her in breaking down legal and social barriers.
Emotional words from WBC Women Boxing Chairman, Malte to the #LadyofBoxing Cecilia Braekhus who conquered the WBC Superwelterweight championship and officially retired in the ring as champion. Congratulations @WBCBoxing pic.twitter.com/hz95TT6RrR
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) October 4, 2025
A Legacy Beyond the Belts
Braekhus is assured a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction for a career filled with accolades. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to unify the four major belts and stands alone with an all-time female record of 25 consecutive successful world title defenses.
However, her ultimate legacy is her pivotal role as a pioneer. She served as a crucial bridge for women’s boxing, carrying the sport through a period where it received little attention and paving the way for the current boom and the six-figure paydays enjoyed by modern stars like Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields. Her final act, a demanding championship victory on her own terms, at home, is a powerful testament to her discipline, commitment, and desire to ensure “the end has to measure up to the rest of my career.”
With the gloves now hung up, the 44-year-old plans to give back to the sport, ensuring the “First Lady” remains a presence outside the ring, just as she did inside it. She departs the sport as a two-weight world champion and one of the most significant figures in boxing history.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
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