Sheffield trainer backs Ebanie Bridges for Puerto Rico win
Sheffield boxing trainer Daz Medcalf is certain he will see the New Year in with a morale-boosting win.
He will be in Ebanie Bridges' corner when she goes eight rounds with American bantamweight Alexis Araiza Mones in Puerto Rico, tomorrow (Saturday.)
A win is imperative for Ebanie, partner of Sheffield boxing icon Kell Brook, after being out of the sport since 2023.
And Daz feels she has a very good chance of doing exactly that.
"Ebs is in great shape," he told The Star. "I see her breaking this girl down, to be honest."
He says the goal, going forward, is to help Bridges, 39, become an undisputed world champion, but right now she is taking nothing for granted.
"Ebs is concentrating on the job in hand; she shows all opponents the utmost respect," he stressed.
Ebanie hasn't competed since losing her IBF World Bantamweight strap to Miyo Yoshida in America two years ago.
Meanwhile, the 'Blonde Bomber' has revealed how former IBF champion Kell has helped her return to the sport.
"What we have is pretty special," she posted on Instagram.
"I’m so grateful to have my partner @specialkellbrook by my side through camp, at every spar to support and give me advice with all his experience, knowledge and achievements. They don’t call him the Special One for nothing.
"We are looking forward to bringing even more heat to Puerto Rico this weekend."
It is her debut appearance under the Most Valuable Promotions banner and she says she wants to inspire other women.
“MVP have been making massive waves in women’s boxing...really believing in us and supporting us for the right reasons" she noted.
Kell says his partner has the same "kill or be killed" mentality in the ring as he exhibited.
And he admits he is sometimes "a bit hard on her" as she trains to rebuild after the birth of their son in February.
She is under pressure to achieve but has sparred 10 and 12 round bouts to be ready for the occasion, he said.
There were going to be "fireworks" he said.
The fight at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, will be screened live on the DAZN streaming platform.