Cecilia Braekhus wins Unified title From Ema Kozin In Final Fight

Cecilia Braekhus closed the curtain on a storied career by defeating Ema Kozin via unanimous decision in the ten-round main event in Lillestrøm, Norway. In doing so, she captured the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles in what had been billed as her final fight. Braekhus’ final ledger now stands at 39-2-1 with 9 KOs, while Kozin falls to 24-2-1 with 12 KOs.

From the opening bell to the final horn, the fight illustrated a vivid clash of styles — the veteran ring generalship of Braekhus against the southpaw aggression of Kozin — in front of a passionate home crowd at the Nova Spektrum arena. The atmosphere was electric but tinged with poignancy: this was not simply a world title fight, but a farewell performance for one of women’s boxing’s most iconic figures.

Kozin, 26, entered as the defending champion, holding both the WBC and WBO belts she had won in 2023 by split decision over Hannah Rankin. Known for her forward pressure and power, she sought to unsettle Braekhus early by using angles and left hands to the body. In the opening rounds, Kozin’s work looked sharp: she cut off the ring, landed combinations, and occasionally forced Braekhus to pivot backwards. But the veteran’s composure soon told.

Braekhus, 44, brought with her not just vast experience but the distinction of having once held all four major welterweight belts simultaneously. Her approach was methodical. After the first few rounds of Kozin’s pressure, she began to pick off her opponent with crisp jab–right cross combinations, double jabs to head and body, and counter hooks whenever Kozin lunged in. She also used lateral movement, changes in rhythm, and well-timed clinches to break Kozin’s rhythm and regain control of the pace.

The turning point came in the middle rounds. In rounds five through seven, Braekhus increased her output, pressing inside more often and landing sustained shots to the midsection. Kozin continued to fire back, landing bursts of left hands, but those were too infrequent and usually came after she had eaten counters. In the eighth, Kozin appeared to tire; her movement slowed and her combinations shortened. Braekhus seized on this, dominating the round with precise body work and combinations upstairs that punctuated her superiority. In the final two rounds, Kozin tried to rally, but Braekhus stayed disciplined, maintaining the centre of the ring and closing the fight strongly.

The judges’ cards reflected a clear, though competitive, outcome: 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94, all in favour of Braekhus. Several rounds were close, but Braekhus’s accuracy and tactical adjustments secured her the majority of them. While official punch statistics were not made public, observers agreed that Braekhus landed the more consistent and cleaner blows, particularly with her jab and straight right. Kozin struggled to find range with her lead hand and often paid for overreaching against the more technically efficient veteran.

When the final bell rang, the scene in the arena was one of celebration and emotion. Braekhus, visibly moved, sank to one knee as chants of her name filled the venue. In her post-fight remarks, she expressed gratitude to her team, her family, and the fans who had supported her throughout her journey. She confirmed that this would be her last fight, saying she wanted to leave the sport “on top, as a champion.” Kozin, though disappointed, showed respect for her opponent, acknowledging Braekhus’s skill and legacy.

The bout was not defined by knockdowns or drama, but by craft, patience, and intelligence. Braekhus showcased the qualities that had made her one of the most technically gifted fighters of her generation — disciplined footwork, subtle defensive movements, and economical punch selection. Kozin’s youth and strength made her a formidable opponent throughout, but Braekhus’s experience and understanding of timing proved decisive.

With this victory, Cecilia Braekhus became a two-division world champion and ended her career in fitting fashion — victorious, composed, and still at the elite level. Her name will remain synonymous with the rise of women’s boxing, not only for her achievements in the ring, but also for the barriers she helped break outside it. Ema Kozin, still in her mid-twenties, remains a contender with time to rebuild. Still, this night in Lillestrøm belonged entirely to Braekhus — a champion who said goodbye exactly as she intended, with her hand raised and history secured.