Ebanie Bridges, the former IBF bantamweight world champion, has cemented her status as the unofficial queen of weigh-ins, but she insists she doesn't view the increasingly daring outfits of her rivals as competition. The Australian-born fighter, who now fights out of Yorkshire, first captured attention by stripping down to sexy lingerie for weigh-ins, turning the pre-fight ritual into a spectacle.
In recent years, Bridges has inspired a trend among female fighters. Her last opponent, Ebonie Cotton, took things further by wearing only thin strips of tape, leaving little to the imagination. At a Misfits event featuring Tommy Fury versus Eddie Hall, Australian model-turned-fighter Arabella Del Busso, known as Lil Bellsy, went braless with just tassels covering her nipples.
Pioneer of the Lingerie Weigh-In
Bridges told Daily Star Sport: "I was a pioneer of the lingerie weigh-in. That's my thing. I don't feel like I need to take any more clothes off or be any more nude to up the ante, because lingerie is my thing." She explained that Cotton's approach was a smart move to stand out: "She was a fan of mine. I know I've inspired her. I thought: ‘You know what? It'd be hard to stand next to me in lingerie because that's my lane, so she's got to do something different’."
The 39-year-old admitted that when she first started, fans were shocked, but now they have become "desensitised to lingerie" after seeing her do it for years. She added: "The girls coming through now don't really have anywhere else to go except things like tape, tassels or more revealing outfits if they want that same shock factor!"
Weigh-Ins as a Mini Event
Bridges, who has a background in bodybuilding, always treated weigh-ins as a mini event. She recalled the pressure of MVP's ceremonial weigh-ins: "It was like a proper show. Dress rehearsal walking out. I was like, Jesus Christ, this is really putting the pressure on me. I just wanted to do my own thing and be cute!" She noted that the first weigh-in is usually in a hotel, where fighters rock up "looking scruffy in your undies," but the ceremonial version required her to look good on camera.
After giving birth to her son, Ezerra, with partner and fellow boxer Kell Brook, Bridges made a comeback earlier this year. She admitted to nerves before that weigh-in, but said it was "nowhere near as much" as for the fight itself.
Balancing Marketing and Boxing Skills
Bridges has always stressed that her weigh-in antics are backed up by impressive performances in the ring. She captured the IBF female bantamweight world title in 2022 by defeating Maria Cecilia Roman by unanimous decision. She has vowed to continue showing off her "massive boobs" if it brings attention to women's boxing, as long as she delivers in fights.
She understands why other fighters push boundaries with nudity, even if she wouldn't do it herself. "If people want attention now, they have to do something more creative. I'm all for it. They're getting people talking, selling fights, gaining followers, and making money. I understand exactly what they're doing!" She concluded: "Personally, it's not something I want to do. For me, it's a step too far. But even though they're not doing lingerie, I'll still get tagged and compared. I was the first person to really ruffle feathers with it. People will always remember that!"
