Cecilia Braekhus could’ve chosen a lesser opponent for her farewell fight.

Braekhus, 44, is a lock for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The former undisputed welterweight champ has little to prove at this advanced age, but Braekhus wants to end her 18-year professional career as a world champion.

She’ll challenge Ema Kozin for the Slovenian southpaw’s WBC and WBO 154-pound titles Saturday night at NOVA Spektrum in Lillestrom, Norway, just outside of Oslo, the Norwegian capital. A delayed stream of Braekus-Kozin will be made available Sunday on UFC Fight Pass.

“I could have picked an easy fight to end my career,” Braekhus said during a press conference Wednesday. “But this is not a show match. It’s going to be a really hard fight against a tough opponent, but that will make the victory extra satisfying.”

Kozin (24-1-1, 12 KOs) has lost only a unanimous decision to five-division champ Claressa Shields (17-0, 3 KOs). The defending champion hasn’t fought since November 2023, but Braekhus is just 2-2-1 in her past five fights.

“Kozin is in top shape,” Braekhus said. “She’s a physically strong fighter. She’s a southpaw, which is challenging, but I definitely see myself as the best boxer here, several levels above her. And I think Ema Kozin underestimates my physical shape, which is a big advantage for me.”

The Colombian-born Braekhus (38-2-1, 9 KOs), who has resided in Norway since she was adopted at the age of 2, will also end a long layoff Saturday night. The respected pioneer hasn’t boxed since she won a 10-round unanimous decision over American Maricela Cornejo (19-8, 7 KOs) almost 14 months ago in Las Vegas.

Braekhus settled for a majority draw with England’s Terri Harper (16-2-2, 6 KOs) in her previous bout. She hasn’t lost, though, in three fights contested above the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

American Jessica McCaskill (12-4-1, 5 KOs) beat Braekhus on points in back-to-back 10-round welterweight title fights in August 2020 and March 2021. After failing to win the WBO junior middleweight title against Harper, Braekhus appreciates this final opportunity to end her career as a world champion.

Braekhus won the WBC interim super welterweight title by beating Cornejo, yet Kozin is the WBC’s legitimate champ in the 154-pound division.

“I’ve already secured my place in the Hall of Fame of boxing,” Braekhus said, “but by claiming these two belts and becoming world champion in two weight classes, I’m in company with the all-time greats in boxing history. So that makes it one of the most important fights in my entire career. It will cement my legacy.”

Most sportsbooks list Braekhus as at least a 4-1 favorite to dethrone the 26-year-old Kozin, who has won three straight fights since Shields defeated her.

“As I see it, I am the favorite,” Kozin said. “I am the champion, she’s the challenger. But she had a remarkable career behind her, and maybe many will see her as a favorite, but I’ve made huge progress in two years and nobody knows how good I am.”