The world of boxing is set for a remarkable comeback story this weekend as Australian fighter Ebanie Bridges returns to the ring. Her return comes a mere 10 months after she gave birth to her son, Ezerra Ray, in March of this year.
The Blonde Bomber's Bold Comeback
Bridges, the outspoken 39-year-old known as the 'Blonde Bomber', will make her debut under the Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions banner. The fight takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she will face Alexis Araiza in the bantamweight division. This marks a rapid return to professional sport for Bridges, who welcomed her baby with former British boxer and ex-IBF welterweight champion, Kell Brook.
Bridges is no stranger to the top, having previously held the IBF female bantamweight world title between 2022 and 2023. However, she faces a significant challenge after two years away from competitive boxing. Her last bout was in December 2023, a match where she lost her title to Miyo Yoshida.
Motivation and Ambition Post-Parenthood
Speaking about her return, Bridges expressed excitement at getting back into the ring and highlighted the new motivation her son provides. "I'm excited to be getting back in the ring after some time out and even more excited to have my gorgeous son ringside," she said. "He's a whole new level of motivation for me."
During her time away from boxing, Bridges maintained her public profile through her OnlyFans page, a platform she has credited for her financial stability. "Thank f*** for OnlyFans, otherwise I'd be working at f***ing McDonald's or something in order to support myself," she once remarked. Now, she is poised to resume earning from her primary sport.
Bridges believes her aggressive style will resonate with the Puerto Rican crowd. "Puerto Ricans are known for their heart, pride, and aggression, and those qualities are in my fundamentals," she stated. "I think they're going to love the Blonde Bomber."
Bigger Goals: The Path to Undisputed Champion
Saturday's fight against Araiza is merely the first step in a larger plan for Bridges. The bout is on the undercard of Amanda Serrano's defence of her WBA and WBO featherweight titles against Reina Tellez. Serrano's original rematch with Erika Cruz was cancelled following an atypical finding in a doping test.
Bridges has set her sights much higher than an undercard victory. Her ultimate goal is to become the undisputed female bantamweight champion, a title currently held by 'Sugar Neekz'. "She's got all the belts," Bridges told Fox Sports Australia. "She's very deserving of it... but she's got the bullseye on her back because she's the undisputed champion."
She envisions a potential showdown with Neekz as a monumental event for Australian boxing, potentially surpassing her previous high-profile fight with Shannon O’Connell. "It’d be one of the biggest Aussie boxing fights, I think," Bridges claimed. "Our weigh-ins combined would break the internet."
This weekend's fight in Puerto Rico represents more than just a comeback; it is the opening chapter in Ebanie Bridges' determined quest to reclaim a world title and secure an undisputed legacy, all while balancing the demands of new motherhood.
