Sydney-born Ebanie Bridges has beaten Argentine Mariá Cecilia Román to claim the IBF bantamweight world title in front of 12,000 fans in Leeds.

The judges unanimously awarded the 10-round contest to Bridges, 100-91, 97-93 and 97-93.

The 35-year-old former bodybuilder, who is a controversial figure in women's boxing for her tendency to weigh in wearing lingerie, moved to an 8-1 record and claimed her first world title at just the second attempt.

"Firstly, can I just say, can I f***ing fight or what?" Bridges said.

"F*** you guys who think I can't fight, because I can f***ing fight.

Fighting in the co-main event ahead of Josh Warrington's featherweight world title rematch with Kiko Martinez, Bridges enjoyed the support of the vast majority of the crowd.

She showed a marked improvement from her first world title attempt, a unanimous defeat to Shannon Courtenay in March last year.

Her improved jab and light footwork owe much to her association with famed British trainer, Mark Tibbs.

The Blonde Bomber came out firing in the early rounds, working Román's body with solid left hooks followed up with powerful head shots.

"I love that kind of fight," Bridges said of the toe-to-toe battle that ensued, enrapturing the crowd.

"They're the fights that, I know they're not the fights you're supposed to really have, but I love those kind of fights. They're entertaining for the fans.

Bridges continued to work the 39-year-old in close throughout the middle rounds, but Román, a veteran of 21 professional fights and fighting in her seventh title defence, worked her way into the contest during the latter stages.

The Australian visibly tired and slowed towards the end of the fight, allowing Román to land blows with increasing frequency in a brutal final round.

However, the judges agreed with most ringside observers that Bridges's impressive work rate earlier in the contest was enough to see her get the result.

"Hopefully everyone here loved that fight, that it was entertaining," she said.

"That was a tough fight. Cecilia is a champion and she brought it, and that was awesome."

Promoter Eddie Hearn said Bridges now had plenty of options, including a rematch with Courtenay, who was ringside for the bout and criticised Bridges for "flaunting" her body in an attempt to get eyeballs on women's boxing.

"There's a lot of people who felt that when Ebanie Bridges came into this sport it was just a gimmick, just driving followers and attention," Hearn said.

"But there was method to the madness.

"Tonight, she didn't get an easy world title, she didn't get a vacant world title; she beat the longest-reigning champion in the division.

"With the profile that she's built, now that she's proved that she's a real fighter and that she can win championships, she's in a great position."

Bridges, a maths teacher and former bodybuilder who won two Australian golden gloves titles as an amateur, said she would take time to enjoy the result.

"This belt represents everything: all the heartbreaks, all the sacrifice, all the training, everything. That's what this belt represents to me," Bridges said.

"I feel extremely happy because it means that everything that I've sacrificed and all the work that I've put in has been worth it.

"I feel proud of myself, very proud."