SA Junior Lightweight Champion vows to elevate women’s boxing scene

SA Junior Lightweight Champion vows to elevate women’s boxing scene

The recently crowned South African Junior Lightweight Champion, Bernice Ferreira, feels like she is pushing herself to the limit to achieve something special in the women's fight game.

‘The badger’, as she is affectionately known, produced a smart and clinical performance in her latest victory over Nozipho Bell.

In an exclusive conversation with SABC Sport, the undefeated lightweight explains that her last fight turned out to be easier than expected.

"To be honest, I thought it was going to be a tougher fight. I thought that she was going to come with more, but when I looked back at the footage of the fight, I saw that she hardly threw a punch.

"She did unleash a few outbursts, but then she stopped, and I think that's because of my jab. One of my main strategies was to keep her away with the jab," explained the new champion.

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Ferreira revealed that she has been working the entire year and patiently waiting for her title shot to arrive, and when the shot arrived, she refused to miss.

She was more prepared for this fight than any other fight in her career so far, and she credits that to her fitness and activity in the ring.
The new junior lightweight queen was also quick to pay tribute to Arafaat Kock and the rest of her coaching staff for helping her realise this massive milestone.

Ferreira has always been known to be a disciplined boxer in the gym, but she began her career as a kickboxer, and she is adamant that her kickboxing background helped mould her into a wiser and more dedicated combat sports athlete.

Both her parents were involved in the fighting discipline, so it is not surprising at all that Ferreira is starting to make waves in the pro-women's arena.
Before becoming the SA Junior Lightweight champion, Ferreira overcame serious odds, and that has fueled her fight for a worthy cause.

"I come from a poverty-stricken area where drug use has been rampant. So, I'm very passionate about anti-drug use because I've lost a lot of friends to drugs and I've seen how potential goes to waste because of drug use.

"I want to inspire people who come from similar areas, and let them know that they don't have to fall into the trap. Just put in the work, stay focused, and you will become something."

Ferreira has urged the next generation of women's fighters to embrace who they are, not to listen to the naysayers, and chase the dream with every fiber in their being.

She did, however, admit that there is a scarcity of female bouts in South Africa, but she is more than willing to fight every month if she has to.
Bernice Ferreira has all the tools to one day become a household name, but for now, the young phenom is hoping for more sponsors to come on board so that she may achieve other goals and elevate the status of women's boxing in South Africa and abroad.

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