IBF Lightweight Championship Showdown
In Monaco, IBF lightweight champion Beatriz Ferreira is gearing up to defend her title against Elif Nur Turhan, a rising competitor known for her knockout power. Turhan, who boasts an impressive record of 11 wins—including seven by stoppage—has a reputation for delivering heavy blows, a rarity in women’s boxing due to its two-minute rounds.
Ferreira, an undefeated fighter from Brazil with a record of 8-0 and two knockouts, expressed confidence ahead of their bout on Saturday, referring to it as “a war” where she is determined to retain her belt, stating emphatically,
“She won’t be able to take the belt — it’s not going to happen.”
Press Conference Tensions
During a press conference, the clash of titans heated up as both fighters exchanged barbs. Ferreira, 32, has held the IBF championship since April 2024 and is no stranger to competition at a high level, having earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics followed by bronze in Paris. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Turhan aims to take the championship title back to her home city of Istanbul, declaring,
“I’ve trained like a warrior,”
highlighting her preparation for the fight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has dubbed Turhan as “pound for pound the biggest puncher in women’s boxing” and anticipates a thrilling matchup that could lead the victor toward a title challenge against WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois.
Co-Main Event and Rivalries
On the same fight card, the co-main event will also showcase an all-British super bantamweight clash between Shabaz Masoud, with an unblemished record of 14-0, facing Peter McGrail, who enters with a record of 12-1.
In another heated exchange, the rivalry between welterweights Conah Walker and Pat McCormack escalated during their confrontational press appearance. McCormack, a silver medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, reminded Walker that the fight must be earned in the ring, not during press conferences. Tensions rose when Walker shoved McCormack, telling him to
“shut your mouth,”
injecting more drama into the lead-up to their fight.
