Australian boxer Shannon O’Connell using Kostya Tszyu tactics ahead of Ebanie Bridges fight

Former manager of Kostya Tszyu, Glen Jennings, has teamed up with Aussie bantamweight Shannon O’Connell to set England alight next month in what is the biggest bout for Women’s boxing in down under history.

Jennings will take O’Connell (23-6-1) to England to face fellow Australian Ebanie Bridges for the IBF women’s bantamweight belt. 

Shannon O’Connell (R) hoists her arms high after winning against Taylah Robertson during their bantamweight clash on the Gold Coast, 2021

The December 10 bout, to be held on the Josh Warrington-Luis Alberto Lopez IBF featherweight title card in Leeds, has been dubbed the biggest fight in Australian women’s boxing history.

But it will be waged on the other side of the world after Jennings admitted Bridges’ promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing ‘beat the tripe out of us’ when bidding for the hosting rights.   

Ebanie Bridges holds the Australian flag behind her back after beating French boxer Mailys Gangloff on points, 2021

Bridges (8-1), who has permanently moved to the UK, had an exemption to avoid mandatory challenger O’Connell for her first defence denied by the IBF.

Last week she accused the 39-year-old Brisbane talent of not accepting her invitation to register with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.

Kostya Tszyu’s (31-2) approach was to let his gloves do the talking and Jennings says he’s drilled that into O’Connell since they partnered about a year ago.

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‘She’s (Bridges) tried to stop the fight twice over exemptions and is now throwing mud over PEDs (performance enhancing drugs),’ Jennings said.

‘But none of it’s sticking; it has fallen on deaf ears … she’s got to fight now and the truth of it is the threat is now real, the energy changes because we’re only six weeks away.’

Tim Tszyu (L), Glen Jennings (C) and Kostya Tszyu (R) pose together in a team boxing shoot – Jennings managed both Kostya and Tim during the start of their respective careers

According to Bridges, her senior opponent has refused to sign with VADA due to ties with UKAD and ASADA (English and Australian anti-doping authorities).

Jennings says he is not about the online, loud-mouthing style, where boxers taunt each other on social media to produce a storm of comments and interest from the public. 

Rather, he says it is the IBF and it alone who the two correspond with; Bridges is merely an opponent in the ring. 

O’Connell fires a right jab at Taylah Robertson during her win on the Gold Coast – it was the 39-year-olds sixth straight win 

‘Shotgun’ has fought for world titles in three different weight classes but lost each time, earning this shot on the back of an impressive eight-fight winning streak.   

‘It’s good for the girls to get the money but it’s so sad two Australian girls, although she (Bridges) now claims to be British, won’t be fighting here,’ Jennings said.

‘It’s a fight that belongs in Australia in prime time.’