WBC junior lightweight champion Caroline Veyre will make the first defense of her title against undefeated IBO title holder Bernice Ferreira in a bout that will pit two champions against each other with the goal of establishing themselves as the best in the division. The WBC did not announce the date or venue for the bout. Veyre captured the vacant WBC title in February by controversially defeating former champion Delfine Persoon. The 37-year-old Canadian represented her country at the Olympic Games and currently holds a professional record of 11 wins and 1 loss. From South Africa, Ferreira enters the fight with a record of 10-0 including four knockouts. All of her fights have taken place in South Africa against opposition with limited international recognition.

 

“My opponent is 10-0 and a champion, and that’s exactly why I want this fight. I didn’t become a world champion to avoid challenges. I want to prove I’m the champion of this division, and the only way to do that is by facing the other champions,” said Veyre.

 

PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE

 

FEB. 11, 2026... Canada's Caroline Veyre defeated Delfine Persoon in a very ugly fight for the vacant WBC junior lightweight championship. Veyre fought like a female John Ruiz, clutching and holding Person excessively throughout the ten rounds. The tactic worked well for Veyre, as referee Rodriguez deducted a total of four points, two from each boxer, but allowed Veyre to negate Persoon's offense. In rounds four and seven, as Veyre held Persoon, the referee unreasonably deducted points from Persoon for hitting behind the head. Veyre's holding penalties, both richly deserved, came in rounds five and nine.  The verdict of 95-91, 94-92 and 98-88 in Veyre's favor was received with resounding boos from the Grand Rapids, Michigan crowd. The 41 year-old Persoon (50-4, 20 KOs) knows she won't get many more championship opportunities and was extremely upset with the officiating. Veyre (11-1) moved up from featherweight for this opportunity.