Cecilia Braekhus vs. Jessica McCaskill - August 15, 2020

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Press Release

Prior to the lockdown, Cecilia Brækhus was set to defend her undisputed Welterweight championship in Maryland against Jessica McCaskill, and that fight is the co-main feature in Tulsa.

Brækhus (36-0 9 KOs) has dominated the Welterweight division for 11 years and victory over McCaskill would see the Norwegian sensation break Joe Louis’ record of 25 consecutive World title defenses, with the 38 year old’s record stretching back to her first World title fight in her 11thpro outing in March 2009.

‘The First Lady’ still holds the same ambitions from when she first became a World ruler, and with a long camp behind her in Big Bear, California with new trainer Abel Sanchez, Brækhus is itching to get back into action and defend her belts in style.

“Finally we have a new fight date and I cannot wait to return to battle,” said Brækhus. “It’s been an extended camp in Big Bear with my new trainer Abel Sanchez and I’m very excited to defend my world titles against Jessica on August 15. I know how tough of a fight this is and will be well prepared for victory.

“Thanks very much to Abel, the Matchroom Boxing Team and Tom Loeffler for all of their support during these unique times. And to my fans in Norway, the United States and all over the world, thanks so much for continuing to inspire me, I hear you loud and clear.”

It’s fitting that McCaskill (8-2 3 KOs) marks the return of Matchroom Boxing USA on DAZN from the lockdown as the Chicago ace won her WBC World Super-Lightweight title in Hearn’s first ever show on the groundbreaking streaming network in America in her hometown in October 2018 against Erica Farias.

‘CasKILLA’ went on to unify the division by taking the WBA crown from Farias fellow Argentine Anahi Sanchez in May 2019 in Maryland before putting both belts on the line in a rematch with Farias in her Windy City home, edging out her old foe via majority decision.

The 35 year old now meets the Norwegian superstar for the undisputed title in just her 11th fight, and McCaskill is determined to keep her fairytale story going and end Braekhus supremacy.

“I’m just looking to make history and shock the world as I usually do every time,” said McCaskill. “I’m expecting to knock out Cecilia. I don’t know what round, but this extra time we’ve got to train before the fight is definitely going to make us a lot sharper and a lot stronger and smarter overall.

“I’ve been in the gym every day for multiple workouts and I can’t wait to show what we’ve been working on.”

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Braekhus-McCaskill First Female Bout To Headline DAZN-USA Show

Cecilia Braekhus and Jessica McCaskill will help break new ground for DAZN-USA, as their bout will now serve as the main event on August 15, live from downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their forthcoming welterweight title fight—which will take place at a 145-pound catchweight—marks the first time that a female bout will headline a stateside event for the sports streaming service since it broke ground in the U.S. in 2018.

The upgrade comes on the heels of the show losing its originally slated headline attraction when flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez (16-1, 12KO) was forced to withdraw from his planned second title defense versus Puerto Rico’s McWilliams Arroyo. As previously reported by BS.com, Martinez has been sidelined through the rest of the July after suffering a respiratory tract infection.

“Braekhus-McCaskill is a fight fit to top any bill,” promoter Eddie Hearn said of the sudden development. “While it’s sad to lose the ferocious Mexican champion Julio Cesar Martinez from the show, Cecilia and Jessica more than deserve their spot as the main event – especially at a period of time when women’s boxing is on fire and in the spotlight.

“The winner in Tulsa [will look] to take on the winner of the crunch rematch between Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon, taking place a week after we return in America with a huge night of action in a stunning setting on the streets of Tulsa.”

Norway’s Braekhus (36-0, 9KOs) attempts a record-breaking 26th defense of at least one welterweight title which she has held since 2009. The unbeaten 38-year old pound-for-pound entrant signed with Matchroom Boxing late last year, making her debut under its banner with a 10-round win over Victoria Bustos last November.

Braekhus became the first female fighter to claim undisputed championship status, doing so in a 10-round win over Chris Namus in February 2016. Nine of her 25 title defenses have come with every major belt in her division at stake, more than any other undisputed champion in the four-belt (or more, counting the IBO) era.

McCaskill (8-2, 3KOs) moves up in weight after having unified two titles at junior welterweight. That run came after a July 2017 loss to Ireland’s Taylor (15-0, 6KOs) in a bid to claim a lightweight crown.

The loss marked her last time fighting at lightweight, with her past three bouts coming at junior welterweight. In her bid to become a two-division titlist, the Chicago native insists the extra weight won’t at all serve as a burden. In fact, it will place her back in her comfort zone.

“What a lot of people don’t know, I started my amateur career at 152 and then moved down to 145 and 142-ish,” notes McCaskill. “The fight at 135 (with Taylor) was the first time I moved down to fight at that weight and that was as a professional. So, just creeping back and forth between 135 and 145 is not an issue.

“It gives me an opportunity to switch up my training and work on something that I can now do at this weight. But the transition hasn’t been an issue at all.”

With the fight now serving as the new main event, comes a recently added chief support. As previously reported by BS.com contributor Dan Rafael, Uzbekistan’s Israel Madrimov (5-0, 5KOs) will face Louisiana’s Eric Walker (20-2, 9KOs) in the confirmed co-feature bout.

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Israil Madrimov takes on Eric Walker on Aug.15 on DAZN

Israil Madrimov will face Eric Walker on the streets of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 15, live on DAZN.

Madrimov (5-0 5 KOs) has been knocking on the door for World title honors in the Super-Welterweight division and can send a fresh warning to the champions at 154lbs in just his sixth pro outing following a blistering introduction to the paid ranks.

The 25 year old looks set to replicate his habitual title winning exploits in the amateur code in the pro game, and ‘The Dream’ is confident of making it six KO wins from six when he goes toe-to-toe with Walker in Tulsa.

“I’m very excited to fight on August 15 against such a formidable opponent in Eric Walker,” said Madrimov. “Many thanks to all of my fans worldwide for their support, I can’t wait to put on another great show for you.”

“We were initially planning to bring Israil back around September, but this opportunity came up and we all decided that this is a great step for his career,” said Vadim Kornilov, Madrimov’s manager. “We’re looking forward to a bigger test here with Walker then with previous opponents.”

“This will be another great performance by Israil,” said Andrei Ryabinskiy, World of Boxing Promotions. “His popularity is growing, and we are very happy working with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, keeping him busy and moving another step forward on August 15.”

For Walker (20-2 9 KOs) the opportunity to derail Madrimov’s rise and catapult himself into the upper echelons of the 154lbs division gives the 37 year old the chance to write yet another chapter of a remarkable life in and out of the ring.

The Louisianan has forged a career in boxing from unlikely beginnings, learning to box in prison as a teenager and then making a bright start to his pro career and won 15 of his first 16 fights before entering ‘The Contender’ in the fall of 2018, where he fell to Brandon Adams in the semi-finals.

Walker enters the bout on the back of two wins in the final third of 2019 and the ‘Baby Faced Assasin’ heads to Oklahoma full of confidence that he is the man to end Madrimov’s run.

“Madrimov had a great amateur career but, as a pro, he makes a lot of mistakes and I’ll be the guy to give him his first loss,” said Walker. “Despite the restrictions from the pandemic, I’ve been training and staying in shape. I’ve been in the gym since May and I just got back from sparring with Shawn Porter. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this, my mind is focused, and I’m ready to take care of business on August 15.”

“Eric Walker is a legitimate 154-pound contender and will be the best fighter that Israil Madrimov has ever faced. Since turning his life around, Eric has reestablished his career and was a star on the last season of ‘The Contender’. I expect a terrific, competitive fight on August 15 and look forward to watching it on DAZN,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.

Madrimov vs. Walker has been added to the August 15 bill after WBC World Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez was forced to withdraw from his defense against McWilliams Arroyo through a non-COVID 19 related illness, with Matchroom aiming to place the bout on a card later in the year.

The main event on August 15 will now be the mouth-watering undisputed Welterweight title clash between unbeaten defending champion Cecilia Brækhus and unified Super-Lightweight ruler Jessica McCaskill.

“Madrimov vs. Walker is a great addition to our August 15 show,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Israil is one of the standout talents in world boxing and he’s on the cusp of World title glory after just five fights in the paid ranks – a remarkable achievement.

“But Eric has already shown he has all the ingredients to beat the odds time and time again, and I know that he will lay it all on the line and provide Israil with the sternest of tests.

“Brækhus-McCaskill is a fight fit to top any bill and while it’s sad to lose the ferocious Mexican champion Julio Cesar Martinez from the show, Cecilia and Jessica more than deserve their spot as the main event – especially at a period of time when women’s boxing is on fire and in the spotlight, with the winner in Tulsa looking to take on the winner of the crunch rematch between Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon, taking place a week after we return in America with a huge night of action in a stunning setting on the streets of Tulsa.”

Brækhus-McCaskill and Madrimov-Walker are the show toppers of a massive night of action in the unique setting of the downtown Tulsa streets as Matchroom return Stateside.

Madrimov’s fellow countryman Shakhram Giyasov (9-0 7 KOs) puts his WBA International Super-Lightweight title against Francisco Rojo (22-3 15 KOs), 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.

[JxhDel.]

Cecilia can win it easily.

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Braekhus: I'm Fighting Completely Different McCaskill Than Katie Taylor Faced

I think she’s very impressive,” Braekhus told Boxing Scene. “The way she’s been developed the last year has just been fun. It’s been very impressive to watch. You know, she just came out of nowhere and gave Katie Taylor a heck of a fight. And then she just beat a seasoned champion like [Erica] Farias, which was really impressive. And she’s really hungry. She’s in a flow now. … We don’t take her lightly in any way. We are working very, very hard because this is gonna be a tough fight.”

“She sees the kind of attention I get, being an undisputed champion,” Braekhus said of McCaskill. “She sees everything I have, and she wants that. She won’t get it, unfortunately [for her], but she will try her hardest.”

“This was a fight Katie Taylor won, of course,” Braekhus said. “But that was a very new and unpolished McCaskill in this fight. Katie Taylor is an Olympic champion – you have to remember that. Then she was up against Farias, and we saw this fighter who was just developed and starting to listen to her strategy and being physically capable to be a little bit more of a boxer, not just be able to brawl. Katie Taylor did not have an easy night, but this is completely different.

“[McCaskill is] a completely different athlete and boxer. She’s more seasoned and she’s more aware of what she’s doing in the ring, and she has a plan behind it. It’s been fun to see that development. It’s a huge difference. It had to be a huge difference, because the Katie Taylor version of her would never have beaten Farias.”

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Marc Castro’s pro debut has been canceled after the Matchroom fighter and his father-trainer Tony tested positive for COVID-19.

All other tests for fighters, their camps, and all staff around the event came back negative and the card will go ahead as planned

“We are all extremely disappointed for Marc that his debut has been postponed following his positive test for COVID-19,” said Dr. Rod Ballelos, Matchroom’s Chief Medical Officer.

“Marc and his father will now be under strict quarantine, and plans are being made to ensure the safety of everyone still involved in the event, as well as to not expose the community and contribute to this already devastating pandemic.”

“While it is upsetting news for all concerned, I believe the strict protocols that we have put in place. Ensuring a negative test prior to travel to Tulsa, quarantine upon arrival to the hotel, then tested once again – have proven to be effective.

“Furthermore, social distancing, religious use of masks, and the sanitary practices we have put in place have also proved that such basic practices do work in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

If you use this content, you legally agree to credit World Boxing News and backlink to our story Matchroom fighter quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 in Tulsa | WBN - World Boxing News

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Braekhus (36-0, 9KOs) weighed at the 145-pound catchweight.

McCaskill (8-2, 3KOs) weighed 144.4 pounds in her first career fight above junior welterweight.

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As far as Sky Sport TV guide goes.. this one is not being shown in the UK.

[gilgamesh]

Is this her 26th title defense? She's gotta be approaching the record huh?

I know it won't be seen as the same level of accomplishment of Joe Louis, nor should it, but it's still pretty cool for her definitely, and probably won't be broken anytime soon amongst Women either.

[gilgamesh]

I would think Braekhus vs Shields at 154 would be a big money fight for her, though maybe she could talk Shields into coming down to 147 for an even bigger advantage. Who knows.

Though considering Shields has come down 2 weight classes already, Braekhus could surely go up 1.

[asmund]

Braekhus has been very clever/careful in her matchmaking. She never moves up in weight. A lot of her "big" wins has been against smaller lightweights moving up.
Her toughest tests has been against Mathis first time they met, and then more recently against Reis.
I do expect her to beat Mccaskill comfortably. There is less interest and hype around Braekhus now in Norway.

[Perseus]

McCaskill pulls off the upset.

Entertaining but sloppy fight imo.

Close fight, I had it 96-94 Jessica.

[gilgamesh]

Well that's good. Glad Joe's record didn't get broken.