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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Harry Davies

Ebanie Bridges surprises Eddie Hearn by speaking Spanish before world title fight

Ebaine Bridges impressed Eddie Hearn by sending a message to her opponent in Spanish before their world title clash.

Bridges challenges Maria Cecilia Roman for the IBF women's bantamweight title this Saturday night on the undercard of Kiko Martinez's rematch against Josh Warrington in Leeds.

It's a second chance to clinch a world title for 'The Blonde Bomber' after she missed out on the WBA women's bantamweight title against rival Shannon Courtenay last April. Bridges has since won fights against Bec Connolly and Mailys Gangloff to earn another world title shot.

Bridges showed off her Spanish abilities at the press conference ahead of her fight with Roman, sending a message to her opponent that was briefly translated by Hearn. "Great words," Hearn said. "I'll translate that if you want. She said it's my time, it's my house. You're a great champion, but it's my night."

IBF titleholder Roman fights for the first time outside of Argentina this Saturday when she faces Bridges. The 39-year-old won her world title in 2017 and has since defended it five times, but her last fight took place over two years ago.

Bridges, who turned professional the same year that Roman last fought, is a big fan of the Argentine. The Leeds United fan is relishing the chance of fighting in Leeds for the first time this weekend.

"To be successful against Roman, I literally have to bring my A-game. There can't be one f****** mistake, I need to be able to be switched on because if I switch off for one second that's when she could take over. I've just got to bring it," she told Matchroom.

Who wins - Maria Cecilia Roman or Ebaine Bridges? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below

"Ceciilia Roman, I love watching her fight. She's a great fighter. I've always watched her fight and think 'oh this would be a mad fight'. I like to have fights I can enjoy and look back on. That's why I get excited about this fight

"When they said in Leeds I said 'no way'. I honestly didn't expect that many fights in Leeds so close to each other. To be able to fight in Leeds for a world title, it's gonna be unreal.

"She's 100 per cent going to be the most experienced and hardest opponent I've ever got in the ring with. I know she's fit and is going to bring her A-game. The harder the challenge the more excited I get, so I'm looking forward to raising my game as well."

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