‘The First Lady’ Cecilia Braekhus, (38-2-1, 9 KOs), of Bergen, Norway and WBO/WBC Women’s Junior Middleweight World Champion Ema ‘The Princess’ Kozin, (24-1-1, 12 KOs), of Slovenia met the local media for the final time on Wednesday, three days ahead of their highly anticipated showdown, “The Final Bell”, this Saturday night, October 4 at the Nova Spektrum in Lillestrom, Norway, just outside of Oslo. The fight will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass.
Below are quotes from the press conference from Braekhus and Kozin.
Cecilia Brækhus:
“The preparations have been perfect. I started in Storefjell, the Norwegian mountains, and continued with a training camp in London, and ended it with a week here in Lillestrøm. It’s been a fantastic journey towards my final fight.”
“I could have picked an easy fight to end my career. But this is not a show match. It’s going to be a really hard fight against a tough opponent, but that will make the victory extra satisfying.”
“Kozin is in top shape, she’s a physically strong fighter. She’s a southpaw, which is challenging, but I definitely see myself as the best boxer here, several levels above her. And I think Ema Kozin underestimates my physical shape, which is a big advantage for me.”
“This is my final fight, my farewell match. I’ve already secured my place in the hall of fame of boxing, but by claiming these two belts and becoming world champion in two weight classes, I’m in company with the all-time greats in boxing history. So that makes it one of the most important fights in my entire career. It will cement my legacy.”
“I don’t think not fighting is the way you make progress in the boxing ring.” (regarding Kozin’s two-year layoff).
Ema Kozin
“Cecilia was one of my role models, and she’s had an amazing career, But I feel great and I cannot wait to step into the ring.”
“The last weeks have been terrific. We had a lot of work to do, but we did it, and I feel fantastic. It’s good to be back.”
“As I see it: I am the favorite. I am the champion, she’s the challenger. But she had a remarkable career behind her, and maybe many will see her as a favorite, but I’ve made huge progress in two years and nobody knows how good I am.”
“I will be victorious, any way possible.”
