First Lady of boxing wants to face Cris Cyborg in 2017

The First Lady of boxing, Cecilia Braekhus, is the first woman to hold the world title in all major sanctioning organizations (IBF, WBC, WBO and WBA). Braekhus, 35, is undefeated in the sport, with a record of 29-0, and competes in boxing’s welterweight division (140lb/63.5kg – 147lb/66.7kg).

In a seven-year effort that will be familiar to MMA fans, Braekhus worked with politicians to make the sport legal in her home nation of Norway. Although born in Cartagena, Colombia, Braekhus was adopted at age 2, and raised in Bergen, Norway.

She began kickboxing at age 14, and soon switched to amateur boxing, where she compiled a record of 75-5, winning a gold medal at the 2005 European Championships. She turned professional as a boxer in 2007, and the rest is history.

On Saturday she fought in Norway for the first time, defeating arch-rival Anne Sophie Mathis via KO in Round 2, in front of a crowd of 10,000. Over 1,000,000 people in Norway watched her fight and win, and Norway only has a population of 5,000,000.

I have to give a special thanks to the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, who has been so very supportive of my work and played a huge role towards lifting the ban in Norway that allowed me to fight here,” said Braekhus, as reported by Boxing Scene.

Braekhus also discussed her future plans.

Two things I want to do next year, fight in the United States and fight Cris Cyborg,” she said. “She’s been talking loudly about fighting me in a boxing match and I’m all for it. And the United States is a place I’ve wanted to fight for many years and want to make that happen in 2017 as well.

Former world champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko was ringside Saturday and the pair spoke.

He told me I hit like a heavyweight, said Breakhus, And I’m sure he would know.

The chances of the fight happening are unlikely, but are not impossible.

First, Cyborg is game. Duh.

She started fighting for Invicta FC on April 5, 2013, and on March 28, 2014 competed with Jorina Baars under kickboxing rules. Baars, 27, has 40 Wins, 0 losses, and is considered by many to be the greatest female kickboxer in the world. Cyborg acquitted herself well, but lost a unanimous decision.

The greatest impediment to the fight is that Cyborg’s contract is now not with Invicta, which does everything in its power to provide the best experience and outcome for the fighters. Cyborg’s contract is now with the UFC, which hopes still to match her with Ronda Rousey. Cyborg vs. Rousey would be the biggest fight in women’s MMA history, and might be the biggest PPV in MMA history to boot.

While Cyborg also holds a record of 2-1 under Muay Thai rules, with her last fight being against kickboxing phenom Jorina Baars at Lion Fight 14 in 2014.

There is not a huge precedent for the UFC allowing fighters to compete in other combat sports. Fighters sometimes are allowed to enter Jiu-Jitsu or grappling events. Pat Barry was released from his contract for a permanent return to kickboxing. But the closest comparison is when Floyd Mayweather tried to set up a fight with UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.

White did not embrace the idea, but neither did he describe it as impossible. First, he asked Floyd to call him. And then he hinted at an interesting possibility.

“If we start negotiating, it starts with punches, kicks and elbows,” said White. “We can either add or subtract from there, which ever way we go.”

Floyd never called him. But if someone from boxing reached out, and discussed a fight at 147, it could be an interesting negotiation. The new ownership of the league makes it more rather than less likely. White and partner Lorenzo Fertitta moved MMA from spectacle to $4,000,000,000 sport, and were protective of the rules. The new owners come from entertainment, and might well see the possibilities in matching the best woman in MMA vs. the best woman in boxing.