Overview: A night of boxing, spectacle, and a side of drama
Saturday’s boxing card at NOVA Spectrum in Lillestrøm, Norway, centers on Cecilia Brækhus’s farewell fight as she faces Ema Kozin from Slovenia. The event doubles as a showcase for a busy undercard, including a heavyweight Norwegian matchup and a tense backstage atmosphere that has stealing the headlines. In the main undercard, a 24-year-old Norwegian heavyweight, Ole Laache, weighing about 114 kilograms, steps into the ring against Giorgi Kubejashvili of Georgia. The setting is a packed arena with boxing fans eager to honor a legend while curious about the on- and off-ring drama surrounding the night.
The backstage feud that threatens to overshadow the ring
The heat between former boxer Ole Klemetsen and Frank Løke, a well-known handball figure who has stepped into boxing as a mentor, has become the talking point around the event. Klemetsen informed Dagbladet that he would not attend Brækhus’s farewell fight, citing Løke’s presence as the reason. He described Løke’s involvement as a betrayal of the sport he has loved and once dominated, and he flew to another destination rather than be part of the spectacle in Lillestrøm. The dispute traces back to a recent fight in Stavanger that ended in chaotic scenes, with Klemetsen and Løke trading barbs in the lead-up to this weekend’s event.
On the other side, Løke has not backed down. He claimed during press events that he is the winner of the previous bout with Klemetsen and criticized Klemetsen’s camp for what he called unsportsmanlike behavior. He framed his role as a mentor to Laache as a way to elevate the sport and justify his continued presence at the event, turning the conference into a clash of personalities as much as a clash of gloves. The comments have drawn loud reactions from the audience and from those close to the Brækhus camp.
From the ringside: Brækhus’s stance and the crowd’s pulse
Cecilia Brækhus has weighed in with measured concern, hoping Klemetsen reconsiders his absence and emphasizing that the night should celebrate boxing achievement. She spoke softly about the importance of respect and sportsmanship, and she invited both men to keep their conduct in check for the sake of her final fight and the sport’s integrity. Brækhus’s team has also tried to defuse the tension, insisting that the show must go on and that the audience deserves a memorable, clean display of boxing prowess.
Undercard bouts and the atmosphere around the arena
Beyond the main event, the program features a slate of bouts designed to showcase Norwegian talent and international variety. Laache’s clash with Kubejashvili is shaping up as a test of raw power and technique, while Kozin’s encounter with Brækhus promises a tactical, high-stakes battle for the curtain call of a boxing legend’s career. The press conferences and weigh-ins have been electric, with fans and media trading questions about purity of sport, personal rivalries, and the lasting impact Brækhus has had on Norwegian boxing.
The broader takeaway for Norwegian boxing
As Lillestrøm prepares for a night of celebration of a boxing icon, the ongoing feud tests the sport’s unity under pressure. For Brækhus, the farewell is not only about a title defense but about leaving a lasting legacy with grace and professionalism. For Klemetsen and Løke, their ongoing dispute highlights how personalities outside the ring can influence the perception of a major boxing event. The arena’s focus remains on the ring, but the backstage drama is a vivid subplot that will be part of the night’s memory, shaping talks about sportsmanship, mentorship, and the future of boxing in Norway.
