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Brækhus: "Brutal Big Bear Has Improved Me"
Cecilia Brækhus is ready to burst out of her Big Bear
training camp and become a record breaker as the undisputed
Welterweight champion puts her titles on the line against
Jessica McCaskill on the streets of downtown Tulsa,
Oklahoma, on Saturday August 15, live on DAZN.
Brækhus (36-0 9 KOs) tackles the unified Super-Lightweight
champion McCaskill (8-2 3 KOs) knowing that victory will see
her pass Joe Louis 72 year record of 25 straight successful
World championship defenses – but history isn’t in the
Norwegian’s mind having had plenty of time to prepare for
face the tenacious Chicagoan.
The pair were set to clash in April in Maryland but for the
COVID-19 pandemic to put a halt to all sporting events.
Brækhus started camp for that fight in January – her second
outing with trainer Abel Sanchez – and believes an elongated
spell in the Big Bear mountains with her esteemed coach will
give her the edge in Tulsa.
“I’ve been in Big Bear since January because I wanted to be
back in the ring as soon as possible and wanted everyone to
know that I’d be ready at the first opportunity,” said
Brækhus. “When I got the chance to be one of the first to
fight for Matchroom on a big show I was very happy.
“I’m in the best shape ever, I feel amazing. I feel strong,
I’m in the best condition I’ve ever been in and I’ve worked
great with Abel. We’ve made small adjustments; we’re not
trying to make me a new fighter but just take the things
that I’m already good at and adding things to it to make me
a more complete and dangerous fighter.
“Working with Abel has been so much fun, I’m learning and
developing every day and I’m having a great time.
“I’m in an amazing place in Big Bear, training in the heart
of nature, with the mountains and the fresh air, it’s a home
away from home as it’s what I grew up with in Norway.
“I missed belonging to one gym, it’s been a good thing for
me, not traveling around from country to country and gym to
gym, it takes a toll on you. Being in Big Bear gives you
more strength and power, and the high altitude has had a
good effect on me.
“Abel is so professional and has worked with so many
champions, I don’t have to tell him anything or explain
anything, we just get down to work. He is a great guy, a
motivator and that’s something that doesn’t get mentioned
very often. The training in Big Bear is brutal but Abel
leads by example and that’s really important.”
Brækhus-McCaskill tops the bill on a massive night of action
in the unique setting of the downtown Tulsa streets as
Matchroom return Stateside.
Rising Super-Welterweight Israil Madrimov (5-0 5 KOs) can
close in on World title honors as he meets Eric Walker (20-2
9 KOs) in a final eliminator for the WBA World title while
Madrimov’s fellow countryman Shakhram Giyasov (9-0 7 KOs)
puts his WBA International Super-Lightweight title against
Rey Perez (24-11 8 KOs), after original opponent Francisco
Rojo was forced out of the bout after testing positive for
COVID-19 during his training camp in his home city, and a
trio of young talents complete the card in Nikita Ababiy
(8-0 6 KOs), Raymond Ford (5-0 2 KOs) and the debut of
amateur star Marc Castro.
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