Braekhus wins WBC, WBO junior middleweight belts, retires in Norway

Cecilia Braekhus defeated Ema Kozin by unanimous decision on Saturday at Nova Spektrum in Lillestrøm, Norway, claiming the WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles in what she had announced would be the final fight of her career. The 44 year old Braekhus, fighting at home, earned wide scorecards from the judges and retired as a two weight world champion.

The judges scored the 10-round bout 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 in Braekhus's favor. With the victory she finished her career with a record of 39 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, including nine knockout victories. Kozin, 26, fell to 24-2 with 12 KOs.

Braekhus, a veteran who spent more than a decade as an undisputed welterweight champion, controlled much of the fight by setting the pace and landing sustained work to the head and body. The judges’ margin reflected a campaign that leaned on experience and ring generalship as Braekhus countered Kozin’s southpaw stance and physical style across the championship rounds.

The bout carried significance beyond the belts. Braekhus had long framed this match as the capstone of a career that altered the profile of women’s boxing, particularly in Norway. “The final bell had to be in Norway,” she said...