Beatriz “The Beast” Ferreira is a historic Brazilian boxer, multi-time Olympic medalist, and former world champion. Born on December 9, 1992, in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, she is widely recognized as one of the most decorated and dominant female combat sports athletes in her country’s history.
Ferreira was born into a fighting family. She is the eldest daughter of Raimundo Ferreira, a renowned fighter known as “Sergipe” who was a two-time Brazilian national champion and three-time state champion in Bahia. Her introduction to the sport began at the age of four in her family’s garage in Salvador, which her father transformed into a makeshift neighborhood gym to keep local kids safe and active.
By age 15, Ferreira was already teaching boxing to others. In 2016, she moved to São Paulo to pursue elite high-performance training, serving as an official sparring partner for Olympic medalist Adriana Araújo ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Legendary Amateur Dominance
Ferreira put together one of the most remarkable amateur records in international lightweight history:
- 2019 World Champion: Captured the gold medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
- Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Silver): Made history as the first Brazilian woman to ever reach an Olympic boxing final, securing the silver medal in the lightweight division.
- 2021 Military World Games: Won gold in Moscow, Russia.
- Paris 2024 Olympics (Bronze): Returned to the Olympic stage in 2024 to claim a bronze medal, solidifying her status as a two-time Olympic medalist.
In July 2022, while maintaining her amateur eligibility to compete in the Olympics, Ferreira signed a long-term professional promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. She made her professional debut on November 12, 2022, dropping and defeating Taynna Cardoso over four rounds in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Capturing the World Title: On April 27, 2024, in Liverpool, England, Ferreira won the vacant IBF World Female Lightweight Championship by defeating Yanina del Carmen Lescano via a sixth-round technical decision.First Defense: She successfully defended her crown on December 14, 2024, in Monte Carlo, defeating mandatory challenger Licia Boudersa via a shutout unanimous decision.
- Second Defense: On June 7, 2025, she traveled to Orlando, Florida, outpointing Maria Ines Ferreyra over 10 rounds.
- Third Defense: Ferreira retained her title in front of her home crowd in São Paulo on September 27, 2025, securing a unanimous decision victory over Maira Moneo.Championship Loss: On December 6, 2025, during her fourth title defense in Monte Carlo, Ferreira suffered her first career defeat when she was stopped in the fifth round by undefeated Turkish challenger Elif Nur Turhan, relinquishing her IBF lightweight strap.
Professional Record & Fighting Style
- Professional Record: 8 Wins, 1 Loss, 0 Draws (2 KOs)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Fight Style: True to her nickname “The Beast,” Ferreira utilizes a highly aggressive, relentless, come-forward approach. She is noted for her quick, explosive footwork, precise punch combinations, and deep tactical intelligence forged during her extensive international amateur background.
