Leeds’ adopted boxing star Ebanie Bridges on the pressures of staying fighting fit mentally and physically

Boxing is not a sport in which to show weakness. It takes power, grit and determination. A true test of mettle that commands strength from both the body and mind.

The battle to the top is often hard won and not without its struggles, as boxing star Ebanie Bridges knows only too well.

The 35-year-old Leeds United superfan, who fought her way to victory on Josh Warrington’s undercard at Headingley Stadium earlier this month, has suffered her fair share of setbacks during her sporting career, but has managed to fight back even in the face of injury.

Speaking in support of the YEP’s #SpeakYourMind campaign, Bridges explained: “This is the hardest thing in sport.

“I think most elite athletes, especially in combat sports, are always carrying some kind of niggle, but I’ve been faced with a lot of big injuries that hold me back, especially in training.

“It is very, very disheartening. In a lot of my camps, I have had to train with just one arm so I can make it to fight night.

“It’s disheartening because I think to myself, imagine what I could do if my body held out and I could actually train with all four limbs working for once!

“But it is what it is and after a lot of years and heartbreak, I continue to push through because in the end, I love this sport.”

The adopted Leeds woman secured a narrow victory against Frenchwoman Mailys Gangloff during the Headingley bout, extending her professional boxing record to seven wins and one defeat.

It was a win that was not easy to secure after suffering an injury to her right hand in the second round, but Bridges, best known as the ‘Blonde Bomber’, said she doesn’t give in lightly and has worked hard to overcome the physical and mental pressures of the sport.

She said: “There are plenty of times where I’ve thought, ‘why do I keep torturing myself and putting my body through this pain?’ Then I fight and it’s like, that’s why.

“I deal with pressure a lot better than when I first started out and to be honest, the biggest pressure I get is from myself.

“I practice a lot of visualisation, self affirmation, breathing and meditation. I am naturally very aggressive, hyperactive and anxious to fight, so for me, I always need to work on staying calm and relaxed so I can be fully focused with a clear head in my fight.”