Ebanie Bridges loses world title in major shock despite Conor McGregor support, but congratulates ecstatic opponent
Ebanie Bridges surprised boxing fans by losing to Miyo Yoshida on Saturday night.
As part of the Devin Haney vs Regis Prograis undercard in San Francisco, the Aussie came up against Yoshida in a battle defending her IBF bantamweight world title in her first fight since December 2022.
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Yoshida was a late replacement opponent for Bridges and was a 7/1 underdog going into the bout, but somehow she upset these odds.
Having lost just one month earlier against Shurreta Metcalf, Yoshida did not seem like she would cause Bridges many issues, and yet this proved quite untrue in the ring.
Throughout the fight, Yoshida took a few heavy punches from Bridges, but she managed to land more than a few of her own.
This told as the fight wore on, as it became clear in round ten that Bridges would need a KO to win the fight, but it never came.
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Eventually, Yoshida was awarded a comfortable unanimous decision win, moving her record on to 17-4, with 0 KO's.
This comes despite the fact that Bridges had received backing from former UFC two-weight world champion, Conor McGregor, in the build-up.
While the Irishman couldn't be ringside for this world title clash himself, he sent one of Forged Irish Stout's ring girls, Chloe Ellman-Baker, to America to cheer Bridges on from ringside.
"I shared with Conor my dream to see Ebanie fight here, and true to his word, he made it happen,” Ellman-Baker told .
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"Now, as part of the Forged Irish Stout team, I'm beyond excited to cheer Ebanie on."
And even though it did not go Ebanie's way, she took the defeat well, tweeting after the fight in congratulations to her opponent who was delighted with the win.
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"Absolutely gutted, it wasn’t my night. Big congrats to my opponent @MiyoBluedog she was the better fighter tonight," Bridges said.
"Beautiful & humble, single mother. Seeing how much that win meant to her & her daughter did give me some warmth inside.
"A loss doesn’t define me. I have no quit, it’s all learning and I’ll be back better & stronger.
"Thank you to everyone who supports me. I love you all."
Bridges was originally supposed to fight compatriot Avril Mathie, who pulled out due to injury.
She was last in action against Shannon O'Connell and, asked about the change in opponents, said: "We've had opponents say yes and then get the contract and go missing. It doesn't change a lot. I'm still going to go in there and fight my fight."
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