South Africa’s Bernice ‘The Badger’ Ferreira has achieved the biggest victory of her boxing career after winning the vacant IBO Super-Featherweight World Title.

Ferreira defeated experienced Malawian boxer Ellen ‘The Tigress’ Simwaka by a wide unanimous decision over 10 rounds at the Wild Coast Sun in Bizana during a Fighters Club Promotions event.

Using a sharp jab and impressive boxing skills throughout the contest, Ferreira controlled the fight from start to finish to claim the world title. The victory also made history with Ferreira becoming the first South African female boxer to win the IBO Super-Featherweight World Championship.

The emotional champion described the moment as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

“I feel like a champ,” Ferreira said after the fight. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve been fighting for this my whole life. There was a time where I was walking around thinking that maybe I had missed my opportunity, but here it is – world champion, baby!”

A lifelong journey to the top

For Ferreira, the title is the reward for years of determination and never giving up on the sport she loves.
Boxing has been part of her life since childhood, as her father was also a boxer. She grew up around the sport and spent many years moving between amateur boxing gyms.

She also enjoyed success in kickboxing while she was in primary school, but financial difficulties meant she could not afford to travel to competitions. As a result, she returned to boxing.

Finding opportunities was not easy. Because there were very few female boxers, Ferreira often attended tournaments, completed the weigh-ins and prepared to compete, only to discover there was no opponent available.

“I always ended up going back to boxing because it’s part of who I am,” she explained. “It keeps me on track, keeps me disciplined. It’s just my way of life.”

After years of struggling to find fights, Ferreira decided to take her career seriously and turned professional. For her first year as a professional boxer, she trained herself while trying to arrange her own fights.

She was later linked to manager Colleen McCausland through Boxing South Africa and began training under local boxing coach Arafaat Kock (aka coach Fatti). During that time she built an impressive professional record and won the South African title in just her ninth professional fight.

More recently, Ferreira joined Colin Nathan and NO DOUBT Management. Her very first fight under Nathan’s management was the IBO world title contest, proving to be the perfect start to their partnership.

Nathan also celebrated an important milestone, with Ferreira becoming the first female world champion under NO DOUBT management.

Kibler Park gym celebrates world champion

Behind Ferreira’s recent success has been the guidance of coach Fatti from Kibler Park. Kock, who trains boxers at Gear’s Gym based at the Kibler Park Recreation Centre, has worked with Ferreira for the past four years and proudly coached his first world champion.

The local gym, established in 2013, has become well known for developing young talent through its kiddies’ boxing programme, Boxercise classes and professional boxing training.

Kock said Ferreira’s achievement shows what can be accomplished through dedication and hard work.

“She turned professional when she was 31, and now at 34 she’s already a world champion,” Kock said. “This is also the first world champion our gym has produced, and we’re incredibly proud of what she has achieved.”

Ferreira’s training has been supported by a strong team that includes head coach Arafaat Kock, Bernie Pailman, Shannon Strydom and manager Colin Nathan, all of whom have played an important role in helping her reach the top of the sport.

Bigger challenge awaits in America

Despite already becoming a world champion, Ferreira is not slowing down. She is preparing for another major opportunity on August 14 in Atlanta, Georgia, where she will compete for the prestigious WBC world title on the undercard of Claressa Shields’ event.

The upcoming contest is expected to be the biggest fight of her career.

“I feel like I’ve reached my life goal by becoming world champion,” Ferreira said. “But this is an even bigger goal because the WBC is the highest-ranked belt in the world. I have to prove myself once again and show that I’m one of the best in the world.”

Inspiring the next generation

Ferreira hopes her journey will inspire young people from Johannesburg and surrounding communities to believe in themselves, regardless of the challenges they face.

“I think it inspires a lot of kids from my community and the surrounding communities to show that it doesn’t matter where you come from or what you’ve been through. If you put in the work, trust in yourself, trust in God and have the right team around you, then anything is possible,” she said.

As Ferreira prepares for her next international challenge, Kock said the team would welcome sponsorship to help cover training costs, recovery, nutrition, supplements and transport.

“At the moment we’re making do with what we’ve got, and so far it’s working,” Kock said. “But sponsorship would help a great deal and allow us to prepare even better for these big opportunities.”

From a young girl who struggled to find opponents to a world champion proudly representing South Africa, Bernice “The Badger” Ferreira has shown that perseverance, discipline and the support of a dedicated team can turn lifelong dreams into reality.

Those who would like to support Bernice Ferreira on her journey or enquire about sponsorship opportunities can contact her management team at NO DOUBT Management or speak to coach Arafaat Kock at Gear’s Gym in Kibler Park on 073 829 9559.