Boxer beaten by Kellie Harrington in Olympic final aiming for world title win before hoping to go one better in Paris

The Brazilian boxer who Kellie Harrington defeated to win Olympic gold in Tokyo says she is ready to "seize the moment" this weekend by becoming a professional world champion.

Beatriz Ferreira, who Harrington beat via unanimous decision in 2021, faces fellow South American Yanina del Carmen Lescano for the vacant IBF World Lightweight Title in Liverpool on Saturday.

And Ferreira will also compete at the Olympics again this summer, where she will be hoping to go one better than the silver medal she received after losing to Harrington.

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The 31-year-old, who is managed by Katie Taylor's manager Brian Peters, told Matchroom Boxing: “I’m living the dream, you know. To tell the truth I never dreamed of being in professional boxing. But once I accepted this challenge, as someone driven by challenges, I just love fighting and I'm really enjoying fighting as a professional.

"I feel at home and am having a lot of fun. The prospect of winning a belt and an Olympic medal in the same year is extraordinary. I'm feeling so much energy and I'm delighted to be here.”

With a huge South American contingent in the North-West of England, Ferreira already feels right at home on Merseyside where on Wednesday night she was a special guest at a local Capoeira For All session, surprising a group of local children, in partnership with Matchroom in the Community.

Now she wants to go one further and inspire the local children by claiming her first World Title on UK soil – in what she assures will be the “first of many”.

Kellie Harrington with Beatriz Ferreira
(Image: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane)

Ferreira said: "I will seize the opportunity and become World Champion here in Liverpool. What the World Title means to me, it's absolutely massive. I like making history, so why not be a World Champion as a professional as well, as I'm already a two-time World Champion as an amateur.

“As I always say, I’m living a dream. It's a dream that comes from a lot of hard work. But it's not just my dream, it's the whole team's and a lot of people who believe in my potential. Now as a professional I'm going to enjoy collecting belts. So prepare yourselves for a lot of belts."

With her Paris mission still to come, Ferriera is fully focused on the job in hand against a tough Argentine opponent in Lescano (14-3-0, 3 KOs) whom she hopes to deliver a knockout performance against.

"Facing great opponents is where I'm heading, one step at a time,” she added.

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"With every fight as a professional I'm feeling better and more comfortable. I've still got a lot to learn. I have a lot of Olympic experience and am gradually gaining experience as a professional.

"I’m obviously so looking forward to facing the best fighters in my division because I want to be the best of them all as well. It's going to be a huge challenge and I can't wait to face them with no fear at all. I'm always ready here.

“The way I see myself becoming World Champion is as follows… we have a strategy: We have strategies A, B and C. And of course we want to put on a good performance up there. I am ready to fight ten rounds like I start the first round, with high intensity.

"My fights don't disappoint, I'm getting better and better. I believe that it will be a good fight and a great spectacle, God-willing, I'll be blessed and win with a knockout, that would be sensational.

"But no cuts this time, my face is fine as it is!"

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