Ivanusa ‘Nancy’ Moreira, the face of female boxing in the West African nation of Cape Verde, has twice made it to the quarterfinals of IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2022 and 2023.

Now Moreira, 37, is convinced she is capable of winning a medal at this year’s World Championships scheduled from 8-16 March 2025 in Niš, Serbia.

Making her debut at the global boxing event in 2022 in Istanbul, Türkiye, Moreira lost to Canada’s Charlie Cavanagh in the quarterfinals after seeing off Morocco’s Oumayma Belahbib in the round of 32 and Kenya’s Everline Akinyi in the pre-quarters.

Inspired by her remarkable performance in Istanbul, an energized Cape-Verdean travelled to New Delhi, India, oozing confidence for the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships but once again bowed out in the quarterfinals losing to Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets.

‘It was a good accomplishment for me to make it to the quarterfinals at my first World Championships, I was there without my coach and my team to support me,’ she recalled. ‘In India, we did enough with my team to win the fight, and although the fight was given to my opponent, I was happy to reach the quarterfinals again.’

Buoyed by her success in Istanbul and New Delhi, Moreira is eyeing a place in the finals in Serbia and feels she has what it takes to be there.

‘I’m currently the number two in the world, my goal is to reach the finals, I believe l am one of the best in the world,’ said Moreira who is planning for a few build-up matches before the World Championships.

Moreira views the Asian and European boxers as the biggest obstacle in her medal hopes in Serbia, singling out China’s defending champion Yang Liu as a potential threat if she comes to Serbia. Yang Liu edged out Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapeng in the finals of the 2023 World Championships in India, both boxers maintaining the dominant show of the Asian countries. India emerged as the overall winner followed by China and Russia in third position. In addition to India, China, and Japan, Moreira singles out Uzbekistan boxers as a force to reckon with.

While Moreira acknowledges the technical superiority of Asian women, she believes African boxers are stronger and will soon overpower their adversaries.

‘African boxers are the strongest fighters, but the Asians and Europeans are ahead of us technically and tactically,’ said Moreira who is once again being handled by her coach and husband Jorge Silva, who has been coaching her for 10 years.

The couple is based in Portugal, running a gym and a small business. Silva is impressed with the tremendous progress Moreira has made in boxing.

‘She always wants to learn new techniques to improve the basics,’ said Silva, adding: ‘We have big goals for Serbia, Nancy is a top fighter now ranked number two in the world by IBA, she can win a medal there because there’s very little difference between her and boxers from Europe and Asia. Now is the time for Africa to make a big statement.’

Moreira is a late starter in boxing. She got involved in the sport at the age of 23 through the influence of her brother-in-law. She signaled her intention to conquer the world in 2019 at the African Games in Rabat, Morocco where she won Cape Verde’s only medal – a bronze. She has no plans to step out of the ring until she’s 40 years old.

‘I started very late so I will be in boxing for as long as my mind and body are coordinating well,’ said Moreira who has hailed the IBA for motivating boxers with good prize money in their tournaments.

‘Prize money keeps me in boxing, if it wasn’t there maybe I wouldn’t be participating in so many championships. IBA is doing a great job, and we boxers are happy that they realize medals are not everything for boxers to invest in their future. We’re proud of President Umar Kremlev.’

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Media contacts:

Elena Sobol, Head of Communications and PR, International Boxing Association: elena.sobol@iba.sport

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