World title challenger Shannon O’Connell has seemingly accused IBF bantamweight queen Ebanie Bridges of setting ladies’s boxing again due to her lingerie clad weigh-ins.
Forward of an all-Aussie world title battle on December 10 in Leeds, an already spicy contest kicked up a gear because the pair confronted of in a digital showdown hosted by Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn.
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The 23-6-1 O’Connell earned a shot a Bridges on the again of an eight-fight successful streak.
The battle can even be Bridges’ first title defence after claiming the belt on the again of a brutal unanimous determination win over Maria Cecilia Roman in March.
Roman had held the belt since 2017, however Bridges outpunched the previous champ to take the belt.
However the pair have lengthy been at odds over how they promote themselves as Bridges makes loads of headlines exterior the ring as nicely.
The 36-year-old former maths trainer often known as the Blonde Bomber recurrently makes waves together with her lingerie-clad weigh-ins, and has a cheeky relationship with Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn.
At her final weigh-in, she gave Hearn a pair of sun shades, explaining it was so the boxing mogul “doesn’t have to harm his neck wanting on the ceiling”.
She’s additionally made cash promoting soiled socks previously.
Nonetheless the act is strictly the issue O’Connell has with Bridges, because the pair ignited their confrontation.
“I don’t like the best way Ebanie has gone about issues,” O’Connell stated.
“In the event you look again 10 years in the past … (feminine boxers) by no means acquired recognised, we went on all of the beginner tournaments and excursions, we paid our personal means, there was no respect within the sport for girls.
“I consider everybody has labored so laborious to achieve respect, and doing issues the best way Ebanie has accomplished them …
Bridges interjected: “So I’m working laborious? You don’t assume that I’m truly working laborious?
“You don’t assume I labored laborious simply because I look a bit totally different, what I do isn’t the identical as you? You’re saying I haven’t had it the laborious means as a result of I’m just a bit bit totally different?”
O’Connell: “What, since you get your garments off to be seen?”
Bridges: “I get my garments off? Sorry, how does everybody else weigh-in in? Claressa Shields simply weighed-in in lingerie, will get her garments off too, and all the ladies that get their garments off, now they’re simply seen?”
O’Connell stated Bridges had taken the wrap for introducing the pattern, including: “I’ve heard interviews the place you’re saying you grew up round strippers and stuff, and also you’re bagging them out, now you’re appearing like one.
“I’ve acquired children. Think about my 16-year-old son going to high school and all his mates passing round that picture of me – there can be punch-ons day by day.
“And my daughter is 15, think about her, me instructing her ‘hey simply get your garments off and also you’ll get what you need in life’.”
Bridges replied she’d by no means bagged out a stripper, having grown up round them, including she was simply weigh-in.
Bridges fired again, saying: “It’s so Nineteen Twenties, telling ladies what they should do.”
If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be on this platform, you wouldn’t be getting seen globally, you wouldn’t be getting the most important payday of your profession,” she continued.
“You’ll be able to say I’ve disrespected the game, however I’m fairly positive due to me you’re right here, you’re going to make good cash, and also you’ll have individuals truly know who you might be.”
O’Connell completed off the alternate taking yet another shot at Bridges’ social media fame.
“I don’t give a shit about individuals realizing who I’m and I don’t give a shit in regards to the cash. If I did do the game for the cash I’d be a f**king fool.
“Boxing saved my life and it’s totally different to me. Clearly nobody needs to go with out however I’m not doing this for the short-term fame of boxing, of being a social media star. I couldn’t give a s**t about social media.
“You keep it up like I’ve acquired no confidence and also you’re so assured, however for those who had been so assured you wouldn’t be consistently begging for validation each 5 seconds.”
Whereas nothing can be settled by the feedback, it units the stage for a mouth-watering conflict at Leeds’ First Direct Enviornment on December 10.
