Aussie glamour girl Ebanie Bridges BEATEN via upset unanimous decision in world title fight: ‘This has been a disaster for her’
- Bridges dethroned by Japanese underdog
- Yoshida wins the fight on two weeks' notice
- Yoshida was dealt a controversial blow
Japanese veteran boxer Miyo Yoshida dethroned Australian boxing superstar Ebanie Bridges with a dominant unanimous decision victory in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon.
Yoshida, who stepped in late to take the fight with Bridges, claimed the IBF bantamweight title with a stunning performance on the undercard of the title fight between Devin Haney and Regis Prograis at the Chase Center.
All three judges had the heavy underdog well ahead (99-91 x2, 97-93), to give the former two-time WBO super flyweight champion the win.
Bridges struggled to get going during the fight, with the Japanese fighter's right hand finding target throughout the fight.
Punch statistics afterwards showed that Yoshida made 122 power shots to the Blonde Bombers' 66.
Miyo Yoshida defeated Ebanie Bridges via unanimous decision on Sunday
Yoshida took the fight on less than two weeks' notice and is now the IBF champion
Commentators were puzzled by Yoshida's one-sided performance, with one commenting:
“This was supposed to be a practice fight for Ebanie Bridges in the United States,” he said.
“This has been a disaster for her.”
There was some controversy in the fight, with Yoshida landing a late shot after the bell in the fifth round. However, it didn't seem to change the outcome much.
The shock defeat now ends the former Sydney maths teacher's 21-month reign at the top of the IBF bantamweight division.
Bridges was originally scheduled to fight fellow countryman Avril Mathie in what was dubbed the 'Battle of the Boobs' before Mathie was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.
Bridges told Ny Breaking Australia it was very difficult to find someone willing to act at short notice.
“Avril withdrew a few weeks ago and this is about the fourth opponent we've faced,” Bridges said last week.
Yoshida landed the cleaner punches and outwitted the Australian boxer
The loss now ends Bridges' 21-month reign at the top of the IBF bantamweight division
“We've had opponents who said yes and then got the contract and went missing. It doesn't change much. I still go in there and fight my fight.
Bridges successfully defended her title with a win over Shannon O'Connell in December and has built a huge following online.
The Aussie is immensely popular with fight fans thanks to her all-or-nothing style in the ring, risqué sense of humor, intelligence and habit of wearing eye-catching outfits to her weigh-ins.