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In a chat with TMZ, mixed martial arts champion Cris Cyborg once again talked about the possibility of moving into the boxing ring and fighting undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus, something that’s been rumored now and then since 2017.
Back in January, it was reported that Bellator promoter Scott Coker had spoken with boxing promoters about doing something with Cyborg. Bellator is her current home promotion, after she signed a multi-fight deal with them last fall and debuted on Jan. 25, beating Julia Budd for the featherweight (145 pounds) title via fourth round TKO.
“I’ve trained a lot of boxing now, and I’ve been thinking about maybe doing my next fight in boxing,” the 34-year-old Cyborg told TMZ.
“Me and Cecilia Braekhus always talk back and forth,” she added. “It would be a nice opportunity for me. I think it would be a very good match for me, it would be a great fight. I like challenging myself. I never look to take the easy way. I like to train hard and make the best fights for my career and fans.”
She also said, “For me it would be an honor to fight her.”
The 38-year-old Braekhus (36-0, 9 KO) will at some point be defending her titles against 140-pound titleholder Jessica McCaskill, and there has been a lot of discussion of her possibly taking a catchweight fight with Katie Taylor, who is very interested but would have to get past Amanda Serrano in a legitimately dangerous fight, which is currently slated for July 4 in Manchester.
Cyborg definitely has good MMA standup, but as she herself has noted plenty, it’s a totally different sport, and coming in straight away to face Braekhus would be a huge task. Braekhus is getting older and has maybe lost half a step, but she remains one of the top women’s boxers on the planet.
But Cyborg has never been disrespectful or boastful about the whole idea, either, and the huge task doesn’t seem to discourage her. The fact that it would certainly garner more attention than an average world title fight in women’s boxing also would make it extremely attractive for promoters, as well as the fighters themselves.