Jessica McCaskill´s triumph against adversity

The Undisputed Welterweight Champion is synonymous of struggle, hunger, tenacity and the desire to win.

McCaskill’s childhood was not easy, presenting exacting challenges, inspiring  her to make something of herself, becoming a strong and resilient woman.

Raised in St. Louis by her great aunt, became homeless, sleeping in the back of a church. From the age of eight, she lived through extreme situations that forced her to grow up quickly.

It was not until 2012 that she traveled to Chicago when she found a job at RJ O’Brien & Associates as a regulatory reporting analyst, also graduating with a degree in Finance.

Just as in her personal life, in her boxing career Jessica also had to overcome defeats and heavy blows. In 2017 she was defeated by lightweight champion Katie Taylor. She bounced back and in her next fight she moved up a division to defeat tough champion Erica Farias via unanimous decision.

In her next fight she defeated Anahi Ester Sánchez to unify the super lightweight division. She immediately gave Erica Farias a rematch and defeated her via majority decision.

In August 2020, she was presented with the opportunity to face then-undefeated undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus.

Without an audience due to the pandemic in a ring installed on the streets of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jessica arrived completely determined to make history and so it was.

Braekhus began the fight by using distance well and avoiding attacks from McCaskill, who looked better in the second half of the fight. The judges saw the match 95-95, 97-93 and 97-94.

“I was thinking that it takes a lot to take the belts off the champion. I psyched myself up that it was possible, and it happened,” said Jessica.

“This win is for the fourth-grade girl who was homeless. This is for the girl who just didn’t care what people thought of her and just learned to love herself. This was for me now, the one who sacrifices everything to put this sport first and make a difference. That’s what this fight was about.”

Jessica gave her the rematch in 2021 and confirmed herself as the best welterweight in the world, defeating her by wide decision

Jessica McCaskill came out aggressive from the start, against a Cecilia Braekhus who couldn’t deal effectively with the pressure.

Late last year, Jessica successfully defended her world title for the second time, knocking out Canadian Kandi Wyatt in the seventh round.

Last weekend, with a brilliant performance, she defended her undisputed crown for the third time by defeating the Mexican Alma Ibarra, making it clear that she is one of the best pound for pound.