“I was determined to prove it”: Australian boxer Ebanie Bridges breaks silence days after comeback loss following motherhood

Ebanie Bridges returned to the ring with clear intent. The former IBF bantamweight champion stepped back into competition after a two-year absence and months after giving birth. She was aware that the challenge ahead would test her years of experience. Later, her comeback bout ended in defeat; however, the result was not the defining moment of her return.Five days after losing a unanimous decision to Alexis Araiza Mones in Puerto Rico, Bridges addressed her future publicly. The Australian fighter chose honesty over excuses, outlining what the fight represented after motherhood and a long road back to full fitness. Her message focused on effort, accountability, and the decision to return at all.Bridges made her Most Valuable Promotions debut on January 3 after welcoming her son, Ezerra Ray, in March 2025. Facing Mones on the Amanda Serrano undercard, Bridges went the distance but lost on all three scorecards. It marked her first professional bout since December 2023.Soon after, Bridges shared her thoughts on social media, writing, “Well, they do say ‘if you try, you may fail, but if you don’t try, you are guaranteed failure’.” She followed by explaining the personal significance of returning within a year of giving birth. “I might not have gotten the ‘W’, but I said I’d get back in the ring in the first year after giving birth and that, for me, was an achievement in itself.”Bridges also acknowledged her opponent’s performance, stating, “It was a tough fight to come back to after 2 years out and a baby. Alexis likes to bring it and we had a war.” She added, “I congratulate her and her team and I wish her great success in her career.”Beyond the result, Bridges spoke candidly about the physical and emotional demands of her return. She detailed the strain of rebuilding fitness after pregnancy and surgery while preparing for elite competition. “I was determined to prove having a baby doesn’t mean you have to retire/quit/stop the things you love, or give up on your own goals and dreams.”Her motivation extended beyond the ring. “I wanted to inspire mums, I wanted to make my son, Ezerra, proud, and I wanted to prove to myself I could do it.” Bridges described the training camp as exhausting and relentless, admitting there were moments when quitting felt tempting. “The camp was beyond hard, emotionally and physically.”Despite the setback, Bridges made her intentions clear. “Now I’ve got that one out of the way, I want to get straight back in, after spending some time with my son and Kell Brook.” With her profile, experience, and support within the sport, Bridges remains firmly in the picture as she plans the next chapter of her boxing career.Also Read: Alexander Gustafsson's net worth: What the former UFC contender earned over his career