Boxing: Sheffield-trained Ebanie Bridges falls short on ring return
Ebanie Bridges faced a monumental challenge - some 318 days after giving birth, she was back in the boxing ring.
With her and her partner Kell Brook's son safely on the sidelines, she traded leather with American bantamweight Alexis Araiza Mones; her first combat since December 2023.
It might have been only an eight-rounder. But Ebanie had flown 4,400 miles from the UK to get her fight career back on track, whilst making her debut for Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
Away from the hype, she'd had to overcome the emotional and physical pressures of being a first-time mum and an athlete in a highly dangerous sport.
Ultimately, though, it looked a step too far, too soon.
While she held her hand aloft in the hope of benevolent judging, she was on the end of a unanimous 78-74, 78-74, 80-72 loss at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan.
Bookies' favourite Ebanie, who was IBF bantamweight title holder between 2022 and 2023 and now trains at Kings gym in Sheffield, had felt she'd been more than in the fight, which concluded with a highly entertaining war in the centre of the ring.
Tellingly, MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian were on their feet applauding at the end.
But the Aussie 'Blonde Bomber', who turns 40 in September, fell short against Mones, a 35-year-old with just six pro fights under her belt, albeit a two-time US National Golden Gloves champion.
Motherhood may have contributed to ring rust, but UK and Aussie fight fans will be hoping Ebanie will continue to campaign.
Prior to the fight, Bridges, who wore Ricky Hatton Foundation colours in the ring, said: "Tonight I am fighting for my son Ezerra, for ALL the mums out there, ALL the women who are pregnant and the women/athletes who want babies to show we can do it.
"Tonight I want to make my son, my family, my fans and of course myself proud."
That Ebanie did, despite the result, which leaves her with a 9-3-0 record.