Shannon O'Connell Considers Ebanie Bridge Just 'Food Off Capital' To Build Careers In Boxing

Bantam-class female boxer, Shannon O'Connell. (Photo: Instagram/@shotgun78)

JAKARTA - The boxer who challenged the bantam class title, Shannon O'Connell, said his potential opponent, Ebanie Bridges, only had the capital of "leaving clothes" on his way to building a career.

The two fighters, who both came from Australia, are involved in a war of words at an online press conference for their fight on December 10 in Leeds.

"I don't like the way Ebanie does something. We have never been recognized and have no respect for women," O'Connell said as quoted by The Sun, Tuesday, November 14, 2022.

"I believe that people like Katie Taylor, everyone has worked very hard to get the honor and then done things like Ebanie did to bring them back," he added.

Ebanie immediately responded to those words. "I mean, I haven't had any trouble because I'm just a little different," he said.

O'Connell didn't stay silent either. He immediately replied bluntly, "Well, because you let go of your wife to look at."

Ebanie was even more angry to hear that. He immediately attacked back again by claiming that his popularity actually made his fight always sought and became a source of money.

"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be on this platform, you wouldn't be known globally. You wouldn't get the biggest salary of your career," he said.

"So you can say I don't respect this sport, but I'm pretty sure because of me, you are here and you will make a lot of money and make people really know who you are," he added.

Bridges won the IBF bantamweight title in March this year after beating Maria Cecilia Roman. The Leeds United fan will return to the First Direct Arena next month to defend his belt.

The former ring girl has a myriad of experiences in her journey to become a champion in the world of boxing. On Instagram social media, she is also a celebrity who has more than 500 thousand followers.