Ebanie Bridges hit back at critics of her lingerie weigh-in stunts in a fiery interview only days before being crowned world champion after defeating Maria Cecilia Roman.
The Blonde Bomber won the IBF Bantamweight title for the first time on March 25, after a t0 round contest saw her beat her Argentinian opponent on points. The result marked an improvement since the boxer was defeated by Shannon Courtenay last year.
Bridges is signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing company and her weigh-ins – where she poses in skimpy lingerie – have attracted attention, with social media users picking out Hearn’s often-awkward reactions.
The stunts have also opened the fighter up to criticism, though. Earlier this month, Ebanie hit back at criticism, suggesting that “haters can’t get past the boobs” after one follower commented that she had exceeded his expectations.
And, shortly before her world-beating scrap against Roman last month, Ebanie was asked about her self-promotion tactics in an interview with iFL TV, admitting that it was vital to her success so far before launching into an offensive against her detractors.
“I know that putting my name out there and making waves and needing people to see you is how you sell, no one’s going to do it for me,” she confessed.
“Some people just don’t know s*** about boxing,” she said. “They just don’t like me.
“I’m the one making money and they’re in their mum’s basement probably w***ing over my lingerie pics on the scales, that’s who they are.
“They’re just jealous, maybe that I’m not there messaging them back, that’s probably who it is.”
Since taking the world title, the 35-year-old has been looking towards the future, and admitted on an Instagram Q&A that she would happily fight a YouTuber like Jake Paul and KSI if the fee was considerable.
“I’ll fight anyone for 2mil, especially some who can’t box,” she said.
After being crowned world champion, Bridges enjoyed a double breakfast, and took the opportunity to emphasise her position in the sporting world, observing: “I love that kind of fight. Hopefully it was entertaining. I’m grateful and blessed to become a world champion in Leeds… Can I f***ing fight or what?”
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