Jessica McCaskill vs. Cecilia Braekhus rematch could happen this year

After losing for the first time in her career — and losing her four women’s welterweight titles — to Jessica McCaskill on Aug. 15, Cecilia Braekhus hinted in her post-fight interview that she might retire.

But in a recent interview with DAZN, Eddie Hearn, the promoter of McCaskill and Braekhus at Matchroom Boxing, said after a few days of thinking that Braekhus changed her tune on regaining her belts.

“I think Cecilia’s interviews, which were incredibly classy afterwards, sort of made me feel she may retire,” Hearn said. “I think feeling after a few days is, ‘I’d quite like to do the rematch’. I think you will see that rematch potentially later this year.”

McCaskill vs. Braekhus was a tale of two fights. McCaskill controlled the opening half of the contest, landing shots at a high rate, staying the aggressor and not letting Braekhus get into a rhythm. Braekhus turned it around in the second half, countering McCaskill and connecting on the harder shots.

The judges favored the aggression and activity of McCaskill, awarding her a majority-decision victory.

“Braekhus against McCaskill was fantastic,” Hearn said. “I think it was a great showing in Tulsa on DAZN. I feel that it was a very close fight. It’s one of those fights when the bell went, do you like, probably the better craftsmanship and the better timing of Braekhus, or do you prefer the rough, ready style and aggression of McCaskill.

“Clearly, the judges went with the aggression of McCaskill.”

The prevailing thought had been if Braekhus beat McCaskill, then she would take on undisputed lightweight champ Katie Taylor if Taylor was able to beat Delfine Persoon. With McCaskill winning, the possibility of a rematch with the Irish star would also be an excellent story for women’s boxing.

“Katie (Taylor) had a plan to face Cecilia Braekhus,” Hearn said. “Now that could shift to fight Jessica McCaskill, as well. McCaskill has done great. She gave Katie Taylor one of her toughest fights at lightweight when she was a novice and then went out and unified at 140 and then become undisputed at 147 pounds. She’s got a great story.

“I’m just really excited and buzzing off of women’s boxing and the ability to make these big, unified, undisputed fights.”