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Undefeated Bernice Ferreira Becomes South Africa’s First Female WBC Champion
Bernice Ferreira wrote her name into South African sporting history by claiming the WBC super-featherweight world title with an eighth-round victory over defending champion Caroline Veyre at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on Saturday, 15 August 2026.
The 34-year-old Johannesburg fighter, known as “The Badger”, entered the ring as IBO super-featherweight world champion and left it as a unified world champion, becoming the first South African woman to win the famous green and gold WBC belt. xsportfeed.life
Referee Malik Waleed stopped the contest at 1:04 of the eighth round of the scheduled 10-rounder, disqualifying Veyre for persistent excessive holding after the Canadian had already been deducted two points for the infringement. Bernice Ferreira’s relentless forward pressure and high work rate forced Veyre onto the back foot from the opening bell, with the champion increasingly turning to the clinch to disrupt the South African’s rhythm.
Bernice Ferreira had promised as much at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in, where she tipped the scales at 129.3 pounds to Veyre’s 129.6, both inside the 130-pound limit. “Tomorrow night, I’m already making history for my country, where I’m the first female fighter to be fighting in a unification. The cherry on top will be when I win tomorrow night,” she told DAZN on Friday, 14 August 2026.
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The victory extends Bernice Ferreira’s perfect professional record to 11 wins from 11 fights. She claimed the IBO world title with victory over Ellen Simwaka in May 2026, having won the South African super-featherweight title in November 2025.
Veyre entered the bout in the form of her career. The 37-year-old Tokyo 2020 Olympian and 2015 Pan American Games gold medallist captured the vacant WBC title in February 2026 and was making her first defence in front of a global audience on the undercard of the Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott event, promoted by Salita Promotions and streamed live on DAZN.
In the night’s main event, American superstar Claressa Shields returned to the middleweight division and stopped Australia’s Kaye Scott in the sixth round to reclaim the WBA and WBC world titles at 160 pounds, extending her own unbeaten record to 19 wins.
Bernice Ferreira’s triumph is a victory for perseverance as much as talent. Raised in Vrededorp, known as Fietas, one of Johannesburg’s most challenged neighbourhoods, she has funded her boxing dream without major sponsorship, working morning shifts baking rusks at a small private bakery and coaching boxing and fitness classes in the evenings, with stints in call centres, sales, childminding and truck driving along the way.
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Her parents have backed her wherever they can, with her father Douglas Ferreira taking on the weekly washing of her training gear. “That’s how I sponsor her,” he says.
Her reward is a place in history as an undefeated, unified super-featherweight world champion and a powerful new symbol of what South African women in sport can achieve on the global stage.
Main Photo Caption: Bernice Ferreira (right) beat defending champ Caroline Veyre to fulfil a promise to make history for South Africa, pictured ahead of their historic super-featherweight unification world title bout at the pre-fight weigh-in in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on Friday, 14 August 2026. All Photos: No Doubt Management
Photo 2 Caption: Ferreira beat Veyre to claim the WBC super-featherweight world title, as the first South African woman to win boxing’s famous green and gold belt.
The post Undefeated Bernice Ferreira Becomes South Africa’s First Female WBC Champion appeared first on gsport4girls.
Cardoso Identifies Areas Sundowns Could Strengthen
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has identified areas of the squad that could still benefit from reinforcements.
The Brazilians were unable to secure back-to-back wins in the Betway Premiership following their 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium.
The draw sees Sundowns placed fourth in the Betway Premiership table after two games, while Amakhosi remain in top spot with seven points from three matches.
The Sundowns tactician has suggested that the club could strengthen in central defence, midfield and on the right flank as the season progresses.
“Thank you very much for highlighting that point, I think it’s very important. Last year, I complained a lot about having more options for the front. This year we are better and that allows the coach to be better also, obviously some of the youngsters here and there they make mistakes,” Cardoso told SuperSport after the game.
“They want to rush a little bit the things, but maturity will come from the opportunities that we have to give. Obviously, I still think that here and there in the middle, back we need something more let’s hope, it’s something the club is working on.
“Because as you may imagine the season is very tough, I think yeah a centre-back, midfielder, maybe something there on the right let’s see what’s possible to do but good signs regarding development.”
The post Cardoso Identifies Areas Sundowns Could Strengthen appeared first on SportsClub.
Bulls chasing Japan-based Bok star
The Vodacom Bulls have opened talks with a Japan-based Springbok, looking to lure the veteran back to South Africa.
According to Rapport, Malcolm Marx is strongly considering a return to South Africa, with the Bulls already having made contact with the 32-year-old.
Formal negotiations have not yet started, but that is expected to be the next step as the Bulls explore the possibility of bringing the hooker to Loftus Versfeld.
Any move is unlikely to come cheaply, however, with Marx’s Japanese club the Kubota Spears keen to retain the services of the experienced hooker.
Marx has played for the Japanese side since 2021 and would therefore need a compelling offer to make the move back to South Africa.
The Bulls are nevertheless keen to strengthen their options at hooker, particularly with Junior Bok Esethu Mnebelele set to join the Sharks later this year.
That would leave Johan Grobbelaar, Juann Else and Juandré Schoeman among the Bulls’ hooker options, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Marco van Staden also able to cover the position.
“I think the competition for Malcolm will be very fierce,” a source close to the Bulls camp told Rapport.
There could, however, be one factor working in the Bulls’ favour.
Marx already has a relationship with head coach Johan Ackermann, who was in charge of the Lions when the hooker began establishing himself at senior level.
Marx spent five seasons with the Lions from 2014 to 2019 before moving overseas.
This story was first published on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.
Mercato : Après Al-Ahli, un autre géant saoudien veut Hadj Moussa !
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The post Mercato : Après Al-Ahli, un autre géant saoudien veut Hadj Moussa ! appeared first on Football Algérien - DZFOOT.COM.
History in Atlanta: Bernice Ferreira becomes the new WBC World Champion
South Africa has a new unified world boxing champion.
In a dramatic and tense battle in Atlanta, Georgia, Bernice “The Badger” Ferreira claimed the green-and-gold WBC Super-Featherweight belt to unify with her IBO crown, defeating Canadian Olympian and defending champion Caroline Veyre.
The end came in the eighth round when referee Mark Nelson disqualified Veyre for persistent, excessive holding, a recurring issue that unravelled the Canadian’s defence under Ferreira’s relentless forward pressure.
With the victory, the undefeated 34-year-old Ferreira (11-0-0, 4 KOs) cements her place in the history books, joining an elite group of South African fighters to unify world titles on American soil.
How the Fight Unfolded
Stepping onto the global stage on the undercard of the Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott main event on DAZN, Ferreira entered the ring as an unknown underdog to the international boxing fraternity. However, from the opening bell, the South African dispelled any notion that she was out of her depth against the decorated 2015 Pan American Games gold medallist and Tokyo Olympian.
- Rounds 1–3 (Establishing Range): Ferreira opened the bout showcasing sharp footwork and a disciplined jab from the outside, matching Veyre’s technical speed. While Veyre attempted to counter with multi-punch combinations and upper-body slips, Ferreira’s physical strength and heavier punches began landing cleanly, highlighted by sharp overhand rights in the third.
- Rounds 4–5 (The Clinch Problem Emerges): As Ferreira increased her aggression and marched into the pocket, Veyre repeatedly initiated deep holds around the waist to stifle the South African’s inside work. In Round 4, after multiple prior warnings, the referee penalized Veyre with a one-point deduction for holding. Ferreira capitalized on the momentum, tagging the champion whenever Veyre became stationary.
- Rounds 6–7 (The Badger Takes Control): Ferreira began dominating the exchanges with clean lead right hands and destructive infighting. Frustrated and unable to keep Ferreira at distance, Veyre was docked a second point in Round 7 for repeated wrapping and holding. Ferreira punctuated the round with explosive power punching—outlanding Veyre 16 to 5 in power shots according to ringside tallies.
- Round 8 (The Stoppage): Early in the eighth frame, with Ferreira continuing to impose her will and Veyre once again locking up the South African in a clinch, the referee had seen enough. After two point deductions and continuous verbal commands across eight rounds, the third man in the ring officially waved off the contest, disqualifying Veyre and declaring Ferreira the winner.
A Historic Triumph for South African Boxing
While the disqualification sparked debate among ringside commentators regarding the timing of the referee’s decision, Veyre’s persistent clinching was ultimately a tactical reaction forced by Ferreira’s overwhelming power and pressure. The Canadian had similarly dropped points for holding during her title-winning effort against Delfine Persoon earlier this year, but against Ferreira, the tactic finally proved fatal.
For Ferreira, who only turned professional at age 31 after years of fighting through empty amateur tournaments with no opponents available, this crowning moment represents the culmination of raw grit and dedication. Guided by trainer Arafaat “Fatti” Kock at Gear’s Gym in Kibler Park and managed by Colin Nathan’s NO DOUBT Management, Ferreira has transitioned from an unheralded prospect to the unified queen of the 130-pound division in just 11 professional fights.
South African boxing now celebrates a formidable, undefeated unified champion who went into the lion’s den in Atlanta and walked out with the green-and-gold belt wrapped firmly around her waist.
For More South African Sports News: Sport South Africa Home Page
For More Bernice Ferreira News: Bernice Ferreira Chases WBC Glory as the Dangerous Underdog in Atlanta
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