Aussie boxing world champion Ebanie Bridges’ second defence of her IBF bantamweight world title is locked in for December 9 in San Francisco against fellow Aussie Avril Mathie.
Bridges last fought in December 2022 when she obliterated fellow Aussie Shannon O’Connell in eight rounds but has faced a long lay off after a broken hand she reportedly suffered before the fight.
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The 37-year-old first claimed her world title when she outlasted Maria Cecilia Roman in March 2022, defeating the Argentinian who had held the belt since 2017 and through six title defences.
But the 9-1 Bridges is arguably most well known for her eye-catching weigh-ins, where she dons lingerie — and continually teases Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn as he avoids eye contact.
The former maths teacher has built a legion of fans and has even turned her success into “generational wealth” after launching an OnlyFans page.
Bridges’ second defence will see her pitted against another Aussie in the 8-1-1 Mathie, who’s not afraid to strip down either.
While Bridges goes with lingerie, Mathie wears skimpy bikinis when she weighs in.
The match up was somewhat surprising after Mathie lost her last fight against Ramli Ali for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title, which required her to go up a weight class.
The pair are set to fight on the undercard of the Devin Haney-Regis Prograis card on December 9, a bout Bridges has already labelled the fight the “sexiest fight ever”.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Bridges admitted the pair were friends and “I respect her a lot”.
“I’m excited for this fight because I know our styles will go well together. We both also have big followings – so I’m naming this the ‘Battle of the Babes’,” Bridges said.
“It will be the sexiest fight ever.”
She added: “The weigh-in will break the internet.
“It will also get a lot of viewers outside of boxing because people will be interested to see if these two ‘OnlyFans models’ can box.”
Bridges, who knocked out O’Connell in her last fight in the eighth round, said “a mid-rounds KO is very likely” but that she’d be prepare to go the full 10 rounds if she needed to.
The pair have already started jawing on social media.
Bridges tweeted: “I can’t wait to smash your pretty face in @avrilmathie.”
To which Mathie replied: “Would only be fair play after I’ve already exploded your right tit.”
They’ve also jumped into the comments on Instagram, with Bridges writing: “Im gonna smash your face in #JustSaying #CollabAfterTho.”
Mathie replied: “Lol all good cos I’m gonna smash yours first.”
While there will be talk to hype up the fight, the pair have long had a kind rivalry.
When the fight was first mooted in April, Bridges only had nice things to say for her countrywoman.
“I love Avril, I think she’s great, honestly,” she told talkSPORT.
“She works really hard and I respect her for what she does, her hustle, her lifestyle and what she’s done.
“I think it will be a great fight and it will definitely be crowd pleasing. I think our weigh-ins will break the internet.”
The December 9 card will be a big card for Aussies with Liam Paro set to face Montana Love, with the winner expected to get a shot at the winner of Haney and Prograis.
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