Ebanie Bridges, the current IBF Bantamweight boxing champion from Australia, recently weighed in on the contentious issue of transgender athletes in sports. ‘The Blonde Bomber’ Bridges boxes professionally and models on OnlyFans. However, what makes her the topic of discussion is her thoughts on the proposed “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, 2023” in the United States.
While expressing no animosity toward transgender people in general, Bridges has asserted her claim. She argued there are innate differences between someone born biologically male versus female. Furthermore, she agreed with the view that transgender women should compete in separate divisions, not against non-transgender women. Citing safety concerns in combat sports like boxing, Bridges stated she would never accept a match against a male-born transgender opponent. Moreover, more than three months after her assertion, she still stands adamant.
Why is Ebanie Bridges doubling down on her opinion?
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In a recent interview with BettingSites.co.uk, Bridges said she faced “zero backlash” for her comments and felt strong support. Furthermore, Bridges believes her prominence in the sport encourages others to speak openly on the issue. As she expressed, “It’s that simple because we’re not the f**king same. There’s a reason men don’t fight women…I don’t care if you’ve got boobies, you were still born a man.”
Bridges is not against transgender people in sports. She does, however, advocate for separating sports categories by biological sex. Furthermore, Ebanie also said that being born a man disqualifies transgender women from competing against women, regardless of physical changes. However, Bridges’ strong opinions on the categorization of athletes by biological sex aren’t the only thing making headlines. This is because the last fight with Shannon O’Connell is another testament to her resilience and skill.
How ‘The Blonde Bomber’ stunned everyone with her mettle
The fight happened in Leeds as part of an all-Australian world title event. Bridges knocked out O’Connell in the eighth round to defend her title. Bridges fought with a broken hand. She broke it during her prep camp and adjusted her training. Ebanie mainly used her left hand and didn’t pull out of the fight. Furthermore, the Australian Boxer even said she could beat O’Connell with one hand if needed.
Booked in for surgery on my hand this Friday. A lot of my camp was done with one hand. A lot of my sparring only using my left hand. But there was no way I was pulling out of that fight cos I knew I could batter her with 1 hand if needed & I wanted to🤣but now time to sort this. pic.twitter.com/vfrVd48G0L
— Blonde Bomber 🥊💁🏼♀️ (@EbanieBridges) December 14, 2022
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After the fight, Bridges showed a picture of her swollen hand. Moreover, she tweeted her condition saying that she has scheduled hand surgery. She also expressed how she trained mostly with one hand during her camp. Despite the handicap, she refused to quit the fight. She believed she could win even with one hand and thus proved her mettle in the ring.
Ebanie Bridges isn’t just a formidable boxer; she’s a force in shaping the discourse around sports and gender. Her unwavering stance on transgender athletes in combat sports speaks volumes, especially given her own resilience in the ring. She’s not just talking the talk; she’s walking the walk, fighting and winning with a broken hand. Her actions and opinions make her a compelling figure in today’s sports landscape.
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So, do you agree with Ebanie’s views? Tell us in the comment section below!
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