Duda Yankovich (, born September 27, 1976) is a Serbian-born former

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: *Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing * Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

and

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

fighter. She has been living in Brazil since 1999. Yankovich was the

Women's International Boxing Association The Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA) is a sanctioning body for women's professional boxing. Established in July 2000, it quickly grew into a major force in the sport. History The WIBA was officially founded by American Ryan Wisso ...

(WIBA) 2006 light welterweight world champion.

Martial arts

Involved in martial arts since the age of 11, Yankovich was the youngest black belt in the history of Shotokan karate in Serbia. In 1994, she competed in the European Championships in Prague, winning a silver medal. That same year, she also won the bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in Zakopane, Poland. She also became involved in kickboxing and became Serbia Kickboxing Champion in 1996–1999, and Balkan Champion in 1998 and 1999. Yankovich moved to Brazil in 1999, as a result of the Yugoslav civil war, and became Brazilian Kickboxing Champion in 2001–2003.

Boxing

In 2002, she became involved with amateur boxing, training for four months with the team of former world champion,

Acelino Freitas Acelino "Popó" Freitas (; born September 21, 1975) is a Brazilian politician and a former professional boxer who competed between 1995 and 2017. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBO super featherweight title from 19 ...

. In 2005, Yankovich represented Brazil in the First Pan-American female boxing amateur championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She took third place and a bronze medal in the 138-lb division. On 23 July 2005, she made her professional boxing debut against Argentinian, Wilhelmina Fernandez. She won on in fourth round by knockout. Then she brought three more fights, winning all by knockout. During this time, Yankovich chose to abandon kickboxing competitions and to dedicate her time to reaching a World Title race in Boxing.

World champion

After two more international victories, Yankovich become a contender for a

(WIBA) title in the category of super light. She won this World Title dispute by a unanimous decision. After the world title win in November 2006, Yankovich made her first defense of the World Title on March 17, 2007, against American

Belinda Laracuente Belinda Laracuente (born 1980) is a women's boxing competitor from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where she lived from 1989 to 1998. Her nickname is ''Brown Sugar''. Laracuente debuted as a professional boxer on 12 February 1997 in a match against Kare ...

, winning by points in a challenge that lasted 10 rounds. Soon after she won against Colombian Paola Rojas in São Paulo and then also won against the Colombian Liliana Palmera in Campo Grande – MS. In April 2008 Yankovich gave a rematch to Darys Pardo and again beat the Colombian. On July 5, 2009, Yankovich fought with the US and WIBA champion

Holly Holm Holly Rene Holm (born October 17, 1981) is an American professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. She previously competed in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a former Women's ...

(a category above her weight) and suffered her first loss in boxing, by doctor's stoppage. On May 29, 2010, after nearly a year away from the ring due to injury suffered in the last fight held in the United States, Yankovich eventually lost her World Champion title to Esther Phiri in Lusaka, Zambia, in a defeat on points by a unanimous decision. On April 29, 2011, Yankovich tried to win the WBC World Title. She lost the fight to

Anne Sophie Mathis Anne Sophie Mathis (born 23 July 1977) is a French former professional boxer who competed between 1995 and 2016. She held world titles in two weight division; the WBA female super-lightweight from 2006 to 2008; the WBC female super-lightweight ...

in Paris, France, in a defeat by TKO.

Mixed martial arts

Yankovich trains at Team Nogueira, and made her MMA debut on September 8, 2012, at Bitetti Combat 12 against

Jéssica Andrade Jéssica Fernanda da Costa Andrade (born September 25, 1991) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Strawweight and Flyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a ...

. She lost by submission with a guillotine. In search of her first win in MMA, Yankovich faced Daniela Cristina on March 9, 2013, at Bitetti Combat 14. She won by submission with an Americana. Yankovich has fought in promotions such as Invicta.

''A Fazenda 4''

Yankovich attended the fourth edition of reality television show ''

A Fazenda ''A Fazenda'' is a Brazilian reality television game show based on the Swedish television series of the same name that was originally created in 2001 by Strix and produced in association with Sony Entertainment and Endemol. The series premie ...

'' (The Farm), where she was expelled after assaulting the participant Thiago Gagliasso during a test, in which participants competed in a basketball mini-championship in the pool. At one point, Yankovich argued that Thiago pulled her bikini, after which she slapped his head. According to the rules of ''

'', any kind of aggression is punished with immediate elimination.

Professional boxing record

Mixed martial arts record

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Viviane Pereira Viviane "Sucuri' Pereira (born August 8, 1993) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and competes in strawweight division. She last competed for Invicta Fighting Championships. A professional mixed martial artist since 2013, Pereira has also fough ...

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Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

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Miriam Nakamoto Miriam Herbie Nakamoto (born August 5, 1976) is an American professional female Muay Thai fighter and mixed martial artist fighting at Bantamweight (135 pounds). Early life Nakamoto was born in the U.S. state of Hawaii and began training in Mua ...

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Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yankovich, Duda 1976 births Living people Bantamweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing karate Brazilian women boxers Brazilian female karateka Brazilian female mixed martial artists Sportspeople from Jagodina Lightweight boxers Participants in Brazilian reality television series Serbian women boxers Serbian emigrants to Brazil Serbian female karateka Serbian female mixed martial artists World boxing champions