World Boxing Council silver featherweight champion, Elizabeth Oshoba, who on Saturday became the first female Nigerian boxer to win a world title, says she “feels on top of the world” after her historical victory.
The 24-year-old secured her first world title when she knocked out Italy’s Michela Braga (6-0-1) in round 10 of their bout at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Saturday to become the new WBC silver featherweight champion.
It was Oshoba’s fourth career knockout victory as she handed Braga her first ever pro defeat, while she extended her perfect record in the pros to seven straight wins.
After earlier knocking the Italian down in round eight, the Nigerian pugilist was well on her way to unanimous win before she landed the final sucker punch that left her opponent floored.
Speaking after claiming the belt, an excited Oshoba said, “Yes, of course, I feel on top of the world. I am very happy with this title, it is my first (world) title but I am still focused and I can’t wait to fight more world title fights and claim the main WBC belt.”
Oshoba had also won the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medal.
The win has earned her praises from the Nigerian Boxing Federation and the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control.
Interim president of the NBF, Azania Omo-Agege, hailed Oshoba following the landmark victory.
“I am not surprised that Oshoba became a champion, she has always been one and I have always regarded her as a champion too. I was very happy when I saw that she claimed the WBC silver title.
“She is one of our best athletes in Nigeria and I wish her good luck for the future,” he said.
Remi Aboderin, Secretary-General of the NBB of C, also congratulated her and charged her to win the main WBC title.
“Congratulations to her and her manager, Sean Murray, and we believe she’s worthy of the main title.
“She should get back to the drawing board and re-dedicate herself to training to win the main world title in her category so as to make herself, family and Nigeria proud and thus etch her name into the history of boxing greats.
“Now that she still has age and youthfulness on her side, she’s worthy of the main title and that should be her goal, we believe she and Efe Ajagba will soon be the made in Nigeria World boxing champions.”
This marks Oshoba’s second title in less than three months as she claimed the IBO female super-featherweight title on November 25, 2023 when she defeated another Italian Martina Righi via unanimous decision.
Along with Oshoba, Efe Ajagba is also the WBC silver heavyweight champion and both fighters are eager to claim the main titles.
Nigerian boxer, Elizabeth Oshoba, is set to battle Italian boxer Michela Braga on January 13 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark for the WBC silver featherweight title.
This will be the third time Oshoba will face an Italian in the ring in five months as she defeated another Italian Martina Reighi November 25, 2023, to win the International Boxing female super-featherweight title.
Oshoba (6-0-0-3KOs) also defeated Italian Nadia Flalhi (5-3-0-1KOs) on points in a six-round featherweight clash on September 30, 2023, and in March she beat Kirsty Hill by points 58-56.
This made her clash against Braga her fourth fight in 11 months.
In the amateurs, Oshoba won the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medal before switching to pro, where she has been perfect winning all her six professional bouts, half of the victories coming by way of knockouts and is ranked number one in Nigeria and seventh in the world among super-featherweights, according to BoxRec.
“I feel excited and thank God for the successful win,” Oshoba said in November after claiming the title.
“Yes, of course, I feel on top of the world. I am very happy with this title, it is my first title but I am still focused and I can’t wait to fight more world title fights and win more belts.”
At the weigh-in last Friday, Oshoba weighed 56.9kg while Braga weighed 56.8kg.
Speaking ahead of the bout last Friday, Oshoba had said, “Tomorrow is the show time and I am feeling good right now, feeling very good.
“I have trained and prepared for this fight, so I am sure that I am claiming the WBC title after that fight.”
And she did.
