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Ferreira to defend IBF title against big-punching Turhan
Beatriz Ferreira during the official weigh in for a super featherweight fight against Destiny Jones in San Francisco, December 8, 2023

IBF world lightweight champion Beatriz Ferreira’s opponent tomorrow has won her last three fights via stoppages, something seen infrequently in women’s boxing due to two-minute rounds.

That means Elif Nur Turhan can punch. Ferreira is fine with that. The undefeated boxers traded verbal jabs at a press conference on Thursday.

“I believe it’s going to be a war,” said Ferreira, a 32-year-old Brazilian. “We are going to put on a show for the public, but she won’t be able to take the belt — it’s not going to happen.”

Turhan (11-0, 7 KOs) was described by Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn as “pound for pound the biggest puncher in women’s boxing, one of the most feared fighters in the world.”

The co-main event is the fourth title defence for Ferreira (8-0, 2 KOs), who has held the IBF belt since April 2024. She was a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics and won a bronze medal at the Paris Games.

The 30-year-old Turhan plans to bring the belt to Istanbul.

“It’s all about the preparation. I’ve trained like a warrior,” she said. “I’ve put myself through the paces.”

Hearn said he wants the winner in Monte Carlo to face WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois.

The other co-main event features Shabaz Masoud (14-0, 4 KOs) against Peter McGrail (12-1, 6 KOs) in an all-British super bantamweight bout.

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