Cecilia Brækhus
First woman to hold all four major world boxing titles simultaneously.
Cecilia Brækhus unified all four welterweight titles in September 2014. She is one of only 15 women to have held all four versions of the belts at the same time, and one of only 11 boxers—male or female—to hold all four major world titles simultaneously. Her reign as undisputed champion lasted until August 2020, when Jessica McCaskill won all four welterweight titles from her.
- known_for
- First woman to hold all four major world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) simultaneou
Lore & Background
Cecilia Brækhus unified all four welterweight titles in September 2014, becoming the first woman in any weight class to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles simultaneously. She is one of only 15 women to have held all four versions of the belts at the same time. Her reign as undisputed champion ended in August 2020, when Jessica McCaskill won all four welterweight titles from Brækhus.
Reader's Guide
Cecilia Brækhus's significance lies in her historic achievement as the first woman to unify all four major world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) in any weight class, a feat she accomplished in September 2014. She held those titles until August 2020, when Jessica McCaskill won all four welterweight titles from her. Brækhus is one of only 15 women to have held all four versions of the belts at the same time.
Did You Know?
- Cecilia Brækhus unified all four welterweight titles in September 2014.
- She is one of only 15 women to have held all four versions of the belts at the same time.
- Her reign as undisputed champion ended in August 2020 when Jessica McCaskill won all four welterweight titles from her.
- Brækhus is one of only 11 boxers—male or female—to hold all four major world titles simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cecilia Brækhus?
Cecilia Brækhus is a Colombian-born Norwegian former professional boxer and kickboxer, born on September 28, 1981, in Cartagena, Colombia. She is most widely recognized for her landmark run as the undisputed female welterweight champion.
What makes Brækhus's title reign historically unique?
She became the first woman in any weight class to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO world titles at the same time. In total, she is one of only eleven boxers of either sex in the sport's history to unify all four major belts simultaneously.
How long did Cecilia Brækhus hold the undisputed welterweight title?
She reigned as the undisputed female welterweight champion from 2014 through 2020, maintaining her four-belt status for roughly six years at the top of the division.
What is Brækhus's nationality and where did she grow up?
Although born in Cartagena, Colombia, she was adopted into a Norwegian family and competed under the Norwegian flag throughout her professional career. She is therefore identified as Norwegian in the boxing world.
What weight class and disciplines did Cecilia Brækhus compete in?
She fought at welterweight in professional boxing, where she achieved her record-breaking four-belt unification. Before her boxing career took off, she also competed in kickboxing.
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