The champion relied on power punches in the later rounds, hoping to close the show in style.
CARSON >> A boxing institution ended its 45-year run Saturday night at the StubHub Center.
The curtain fell on HBO’s long dance with pugilism after the network’s 1,119th fight, a unanimous-decision victory for undisputed women’s welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus (35-0). Judges at ringside scored the bout 100-90,100-90,99-91 for “The First Lady.”
Braekhus, 37, had no trouble out-boxing Aleksandra Lopes (18-5-3), stalking the 25-year-old from Marshfield, Mass., over 10 rounds to retain the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO welterweight championship belts.
The champion relied on power punches in the later rounds, hoping to close the show in style. Related Articles
Holloway stops Ortega by TKO at UFC 231
Lomachenko wins unanimous decision for 2nd lightweight belt
Female stars will help HBO Boxing ride off into sunset
UFC 231: Valentina Shevchenko ready to fight, title or not
Dominick Cruz returns at UFC 233 vs. John Lineker
“That’s where I got a little eager,” Braekhus told HBO blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley, who was conducting his final interview in that role. “When you are where I am in my career that normally shouldn’t happen, but this is a historical night.”
Braekhus became the first woman champion to appear on HBO in May, when she opened a Gennady Golovkin HBO World Championship Boxing card at the StubHub Center.
Her promoter, Tom Loeffler, called Braekhus’ appearance on HBO one his biggest accomplishments.
