How pandemic turned into self-exile for champion boxer Cecilia Braekhus

COVID-19 forced the world into lockdown. For champion boxer Cecilia Braekhus, she had to stay in the U.S. rather than return home to Norway for her career.

In March, the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the world into lockdown, but boxer Cecilia Braekhus has essentially been prevented from returning home to Norway.

Braekhus (36-0, 9 KOs) is a future Hall-of-Famer and remains undefeated. She has defended her titles an astounding 25 times and is the undisputed and fully unified welterweight world champion. If she defeats Jessica McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) on Saturday, Aug. 15, then she will surpass heavyweight icon Joe Louis’s record for title defenses in the same weight class.

Arguably, Braekhus has achieved more than any woman in boxing, but the pandemic has left Braekhus away from home for six months and counting.

Braekhus was supposed to defend her belts against McCaskill on Apr. 17. She came to the U.S. early to train at the Summit Gym in Big Bear, California, in January. She’s been there ever since.

“It’s been quite a different experience,” Braekhus told FanSided. “I thought I had experienced everything throughout my career, but this was something completely new. We started training, and suddenly all this happens.”

Braekhus trains under the tutelage of Abel Sanchez, who led Gennadiy Golovkin to numerous world titles before their split following his 2018 loss to Canelo Alvarez. The McCaskill bout marks the second fight that Braekhus has trained under Sanchez’s guidance.

After Braekhus’s fight with McCaskill was postponed, she couldn’t go home due to travel restrictions. When things opened up, Braekhus couldn’t risk going back to Norway because she may not have been able to get back into the U.S.

“COVID hits, and we’re going to lockdown, and I’m stuck because I can go back to Norway, but I will have to go in quarantine there,” explained Braekhus. “I don’t have my team, so training would be very, very hard for me. I knew that everything was so uncertain that I couldn’t expect to come to the states any time soon.”

After the fight postponement, Braekhus took a break from training, but she stayed in Big Bear in an apartment above the Summit Gym. Sanchez knew that his star pupil was isolated and tried his best to make her feel less homesick.

“He was every day coming to check on me,” said Braekhus. “Every single day, he was there to check on me. I’m a grown woman. I know how to handle myself, but still, I’m far from home. Only that small gesture meant so much.”

Cecilia Braekhus has called Big Bear, California home for most of 2020, but it has helped her bond with trainer Abel Sanchez.

Even though they’ve only worked together for two fights, Braekhus and Sanchez bonded due to the unique circumstances that kept Braekhus anchored in the U.S.

“We have gotten to know each other on a whole different level,” revealed Braekhus. “But I also have to say that I’ve gained so much respect for that man. It’s not only as a trainer but as a person, as a human being.”

Braekhus misses home but enjoys her time in Big Bear. Its picturesque landscape has been her home for half a year. She restarted training when a new fight date was close to sealed and has been more focused than ever before.

“Now I’m ready,” declared Braekhus. “I have full confidence in me and Abel working together, like a hand in a glove. This is going to be something completely different [than our first fight together].”

McCaskill has also had the benefit of elongated preparation. She holds the WBC and WBA junior welterweight titles but is moving up a division to challenge Braekhus for all the belts. McCaskill may be the toughest challenge of Braekhus’s career—a thought she has considered.

“Jessica, right now, is one of the toughest fighters out there,” said Braekhus of her opponent. “You’ve got to crawl before you can learn to walk, but now she’s really developed. She’s getting her strength. Everything is starting to shape together. She’s becoming a really dangerous fighter.”

The winner of Braekhus vs. McCaskill is in line to fight the victor of Katie Taylor vs. Delfine Persoon, who meet on Saturday, Aug. 22. Should Braekhus defeat McCaskill and the eventual winner of Taylor vs. Persoon, then Braekhus would cement her legacy as the best female boxer in history.

But first things first, and Braekhus will likely have her hands full with McCaskill. Braekhus feels more than ready for the challenge to come.

“I want to see If I can come in my best shape ever at the age of 38,” said Braekhus. “I want to see if I can get everything that me and Abel have worked at, out in the ring. That’s something that’s really motivating me. If that all falls in place, then I will no doubt beat Jessica McCaskill.”

Cecilia Braekhus vs. Jessica McCaskill can be seen on Saturday, Aug. 15, on DAZN. Coverage begins at 8 p.m ET.