At just 18 years old, a young man laced up his first pair of boxing gloves in Portugal, driven by a dream and a deep sense of purpose. Today, that same fighter, IBO 154-pound champion Uisma Lima stands on the brink of his first title defense, ready to bring the heat to South Africa against local man Shervantaigh Koopman. Born in Angola and raised in Portugal from the age of eight, Lima’s journey is one of resilience and sacrifice. “I left Angola to give my mother and two brothers a better life,” he says. “That decision shaped everything.”

 

As an amateur, he was a force to be reckoned with, winning every international tournament he entered in Portugal and amassing a record of 41 wins and just three losses. Now, as a professional, he’s more focused than ever. “I had a great camp. I trained smart, intensely, and with the best. I’m confident and well-prepared.”

 

Indeed, footage of him on Instagram shows an athlete in incredible condition, clearly at his peak ahead of next weekend’s Emperors Palace showdown. His fighting style is as commanding as his mindset. “I like to dominate the fight from beginning to end,” he says, echoing the influence of his boxing idols Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Anthony Joshua. Like them, he blends power with precision, and heart with strategy.

 

His opponent, Koopman, is no pushover. “He’s a good fighter. I respect him. He also likes to dominate, and I like that about him,” the champion notes. “But playing smart will be the key to success.”

 

Outside the ring, he’s a devoted father to two young children – Lucas, four, and Mia, nine months, who fuel his fire every day. “I motivate myself by believing in myself and knowing that one day, I’ll reach the top.”

 

As he prepares to step into the ring in South Africa, his goal is clear: “To make a wish for the title with a solid victory.”

 

No trash talk, no theatrics. Just a man on a mission, ready to prove once again why he’s the one to beat. Lima and his team arrive in South Africa on Friday. May 31st’s action will be broadcast live on SuperSport.