Teeth clenched, hands sweating, standing ovations. A dramatic bout with filmic overtones that had the crowd’s heart rate soaring. On Saturday afternoon, under Matchroom promotion, Shannon Courtenay (7-1-0, 3 KOs) and Ebanie Bridges (5-1-0, 2 KOs) put on a great fight. At the end of the ten rounds, Courtenay won the unanimous decision and was crowned the new World Boxing Association Female Bantamweight Champion.

The British fighter nicknamed “The Baby face assassin” scored the opening jab that set the pace. With a consistent exchange approach by the Australian fighter, the fight unfolded with intensity from the first round. The lead was quickly taken by the visible strength of Bridges who gave her opponent no rest. So much so that by the second round, Courtenay’s left side of her head, above the ear, began to bleed as a result of an accidental headbutt in a cross. That bleeding painted the clothing of both gradually until the end.

From the fifth round on, the British made a tactical turn in the actions: she began to fight in retreat and excelled in the counter-punching offense where, despite not coming out unscathed, she managed to overcome Bridges with effective punches that left Bridges’ left eye with a pronounced swelling.

A fight where distraction was not an option, as either fighter could end the fight at any moment. However, strategy prevailed, and Shannon Courtenay was crowned at 118 pounds with the black and gold belt, her first title.