OSLO, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg was criticized for among the cheering audience when local boxer Cecilia Braekhus defeated her French opponent with a knockout in the second round, newspaper Aftenposten reported on Monday.
The match between Braekhus and Anne-Sophie Mathis on Saturday was the first time after 35 years that professional boxing event took place in Norway.
Solberg gladly posed for a photo with Braekhus and all her World Champion belts. "I think it went a bit too fast, but I believe Norway is proud of you," the prime minister said.
Norwegian Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland, who was also present at the event, wrote on Facebook that "the world's most deserved hug tonight. What a lady. You are absolutely wonderful!!"
However, there were many others who strongly reacted to the ministers' participation at the event that gathered about 10,000 spectators in the Oslo Spektrum arena.
"Awkward, tragic and embarrassing that the Norwegian government is proud to release this! And when the prime minister stands in the ring afterwards and cheers the three minutes that ended up with the opponent being hit until she bled, is simply embarrassing," Per Sigurd Sorensen, politician and the prime minister's Conservative Party colleague, wrote on Facebook.
According to Aftenposten, Sorensen has supported the 1981 ban on professional boxing in Norway and wished that it was not lifted in 2014.
"We saw it clearly on Saturday, that the opponent was hit until she bled after three minutes. And we should cheer for this? I do not like that," he said.
Aftenposten reported that Solberg did not want to comment on the case.
Mathis, the french boxer, admitted after the fight that she had never been so beaten in her career before.
"I was completely in chaos. I heard sounds in my ears and could not orient myself," she said at a press conference after the fight.
Helleland told Aftenposten that she believed it was correct to participate at the event and that the state "should not be in the position to ban sport activities."
"Norwegian sportsmen had for years travelled abroad to compete in professional boxing, but now we have made it possible for the activity to also take place within organized framework and with clear health and safety requirements in Norway," she said.
Knut Arild Hareide, leader of Norwegian Christian Democratic Party (KRF), said that there was a paradox, because "if what happened in the Spektrum's ring had happened in the city center, the police would have lots to do."
He also pointed out that there are many that would like to have ministers on their arrangements.
"When they choose to strongly prioritize this, they send a signal that they think it is correct. This combat sport can lead to significant damage of a person. Sending this signal is not something I would do," he said.
Arvid Samland, the prime ministers' communications advisor, said that Solberg has accepted the invitation for the event, but could not answer whether she would participate in more boxing arrangemens in Norway.
Braekhus was very satisfied with the support that she had received from the ministers and said that the reason that she loves boxing is because it is "absolutely for everyone."
"I believe this is what could be seen on Saturday. There were not only politicians there, but absolutely all kinds of people. There is nothing negative to be said about what happened on Saturday," she said.
