Aussie world champion Ebanie Bridges talks how she is changing boxing ahead of Yoshida clash

Ebanie Bridges is changing the game both in and out of the ring, and ahead of her showdown with Miyo Yoshida, the Blonde Bomber sits down with BRENDAN BRADFORD.

Ebanie Bridges defends her IBF bantamweight world title this weekend. Picture: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Aussie world champion Ebanie Bridges has opened up on her friendship with UFC superstar Conor McGregor, while revealing she makes “millions” outside boxing, and even sponsors other female fighters.

The Blonde Bomber, who has attracted intense criticism for weighing in wearing lingerie and signing a big-money deal with OnlyFans, is now preparing to make the second defence of her IBF bantamweight world title this weekend against Miyo Yoshida.

Photos of Bridges and McGregor ringside at a boxing event went viral earlier this year “for good or bad” but Bridges says the Irishman has only ever been supportive of her career.

Conor McGregor and Bridges photographed ringside at a Katie Taylor fight “broke the internet”. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile/Getty Images

She even credits him with a crucial piece of advice he gave her when she first moved to the UK to box.

“He connected with me before my first world title fight (against Shannon Courtenay in 2021) and said, ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing, you’re taking over’,” Bridges tells this masthead. “He was pretty much telling me not to listen to anyone, because I’m obviously different and I do get a lot of stick.

“That’s what he does as well. If he listened to what everyone says, he wouldn’t be a multi-millionaire.”

Bridges adopted that mindset as she took the boxing world by storm, beating Maria Roman to claim the IBF belt in March 2022.

“At first, it was about getting all the eyes on me by doing what I do, then it was proving I can fight too,” she says. “I beat the longest reigning world champion in my division, I’ve proved I can fight and that I have heart and that I’m more than just t**s on the scales.

“So, anyone who doesn’t want to look past my looks, my b**bs and the OnlyFans are just haters. They’re bitter.

“But I don’t really care. Honestly, if I listened to what people say about me, there’d be no way I’d be where I am and no way I’d be making millions.”

Bridges lands one on bitter rival Shannon O’Connell in their world title fight last year. Picture: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Bridges says the money she makes from boxing is “pocket change” compared to the cash she rakes in outside the sport, but is using her new-found wealth to help change the system.

“I sponsor female fighters with the money I’ve made,” she says. “You don’t see Katie Taylor doing that.

“I put my money back into the sport to people who are trying to do what I’ve done. I want to give back. I want to help other women be successful.

“I sponsor Nicola Hopewell, Lauren Parker and Skye Falzon. These girls, I see potential in them, and I want to help them on their journey.”

Boxing, she says, it’s just one part of her life, as she builds a legacy to last once her fighting days are done.

“I was born to be a superstar. I was born for people to hear my voice, and to inspire,” she says. “Boxing is just my vehicle, but I want to inspire and motivate.

“That’s why I became a teacher, to help kids to be better, and it’s what I still do now.

“Who cares if people call you a skanky stripper? Or if they don’t think you should be doing what you do. Just go out and do it.

“I have the biggest platform of anyone in women’s boxing and I can use that platform to push that message.”

Bridges is giving back to the sport by sponsoring rising female boxers all over the world.

With that in mind, she sees herself as a game changer in the same way McGregor was for the UFC in terms of self-promotion and becoming bigger than the sport itself.

“I definitely changed the game, with being feminine and being sexy,” she says. “It’s okay that we’re feminine and look like women.

“Since I jumped on the scales with lingerie, there’s a lot of women doing it now, embracing being free and feeling attractive.

“I get tagged in posts now when other women do it, because I was a pioneer, and I’d say I’ve opened the door to other women to do the same.”

Originally published as Aussie world champion Ebanie Bridges talks how she is changing boxing ahead of Yoshida clash