“The Blonde Bomber,” Ebanie Bridges, marked her return to the ring with a six-round points victory over Ebonie Cotton on April 18th. The bantamweight bout, contested at the 118-pound limit at Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring, saw Bridges secure a unanimous decision with the judges scoring it 59-56 in her favor.
This fight held significant importance for Bridges as it followed a loss to Alexis Araiza Mones in Puerto Rico on January 3rd, marking her first bout after a considerable break from competition. Prior to facing Cotton, Bridges had publicly stated that this fight would be a crucial test of her ability to regain her title contention status.
From the outset, Cotton exhibited speed and aggression, launching hooks and jabs in an attempt to disrupt the former IBF women’s bantamweight champion. Bridges, however, found her rhythm, landing cleaner right hands and gradually delivering more impactful shots as the rounds progressed.
The middle rounds evolved into a close-range battle, with both fighters engaging in exchanges within the pocket. Reports indicate Bridges was taken down to the canvas during one such exchange. Cotton’s energetic output kept her competitive, but Bridges’ accuracy and the cleaner impact of her punches appeared to sway the judges’ scoring.
“This is who I fight for now… our son Ezerra Ray. My why. My heart. My everything. On the hard days, he’s the reason I keep going. I didn’t give up on my dreams when I became a mum—he gave them more meaning. More fire. More purpose. I do this to show him what hard work, resilience, and believing in yourself can do. To show him you don’t stop chasing your goals… you chase them even harder. I’ll always lead by example. For him.”
By the later stages of the fight, it had become a demanding six-round contest rather than a simple comeback win. The final score of 59-56 suggests Bridges did enough to win several rounds without outright dominating, indicating a competitive and physically challenging outing.
This victory is crucial for Bridges, as it halts her losing streak following her January defeat and provides a much-needed win since 2022. Cotton, who had significantly less professional experience with this being only her fourth professional bout, nonetheless offered a strong challenge, forcing the former world champion to work the full six rounds.
The fight garnered additional attention due to the pre-bout weigh-in, but the outcome was clear: Bridges secured the decision, quelled concerns of a losing streak, and left Sunderland with a vital result.
