Uisma Lima

Uisma dos Ramos Lima, born February 1, 1993, in Luanda, Angola, moved to Porto, Portugal, at age eight and began boxing at 18. Turning professional in 2019, Portugal’s amateur boxing scene, though still emerging, is marked by a passionate, close-knit community that values discipline, technical skill, and resilience. Centered in cities like Porto and Lisbon, grassroots gyms and regional federations nurture young fighters through limited but dedicated resources, emphasizing fundamentals and mental toughness. National competitions and increased participation in European tournaments have raised the level of competition, exposing Portuguese amateurs to diverse styles and sharpening their tactics. This environment fosters not only athletic development but also personal growth, offering many youth a path to confidence and purpose. The steady rise of fighters like Uisma Lima reflects how Portugal’s amateur boxing is evolving into a technically savvy force and laying the foundation for greater professional achievements on the international stage.

Lima’s early professional fights built momentum as he secured victories over a series of journeymen and prospects. Notable early wins include a unanimous decision over Samuel Mangalu in September 2019, and a first-round knockout of Marko Katanic in December 2020. These performances showcased his power and technical skill, earning him regional attention. In April 2024, Lima captured the IBF Inter-Continental Super Welterweight title with a decisive unanimous decision win over Haro Matevosyan in Berlin. This bout marked a key step up in competition, with Lima controlling the fight through sharp combinations and superior ring generalship. Lima’s most significant professional achievement came on May 31, 2025, when he defeated the undefeated Shervantaigh Koopman via a seventh-round technical knockout to claim the IBO World Super Welterweight Championship. Lima’s tactical patience and power were on full display, as he used an effective jab to disrupt Koopman’s rhythm before landing a series of heavy shots that forced the stoppage. His first professional loss came in August 2023 against Aaron McKenna, who defeated Lima by unanimous decision for the vacant WBC International Middleweight title. Despite a valiant effort and notable toughness throughout the fight, Lima was outpointed over twelve rounds. Lima’s upcoming fight scheduled for October 11, 2025, pits him against Jaron "Boots" Ennis in a WBA final eliminator. This bout is expected to be a defining moment in Lima’s career, offering a pathway to a world title opportunity in the super welterweight division.

In Portugal, life moves with a certain rhythm—a balance of hard work and appreciation for the finer things: long meals filled with fresh seafood and regional wine, lively street festivals, and a deep pride in local culture. This atmosphere fosters a grounded humility and determination in its people, qualities that Lima embodies in his boxing style and personal ethos.

Uisma Lima’s boxing style is rooted efficient footwork that prioritizes balance and control, reflecting ingrained in Portuguese boxing culture. Lima’s movement is steady and purposeful, using tight pivots and precise angles to cut off the ring and trap opponents, much like a skilled midfielder in soccer controlling space on the pitch. This measured ring navigation conserves energy, enabling Lima to maintain constant pressure and unleash sudden offensive bursts, as seen in his title-winning bout against Shervantaigh Koopman, where Lima methodically cornered his opponent before delivering power combinations.

Central to Lima’s style is his mastery of acceleration an attribute shared with elite soccer players like Cristiano Ronaldo. In both boxing and soccer, acceleration is about controlled, explosive bursts that allow athletes to gain optimal positioning quickly while conserving energy during steady movement phases. Lima’s footwork mirrors Ronaldo’s stride: a supercar-like controlled acceleration characterized by smooth initial steps followed byforceful propulsion. Ronaldo’s precise foot placement, low center of gravity, and efficient hip rotation create fluid momentum and power generation. Principles Lima adapts in the ring to generate explosive combinations from balanced stances. Lima’s favored combination consists of a disrupting jab doubled or tripled to unsettle timing, followed by a sharp right cross and a left hook balancing offense and defense with rhythmic precision. This combo exemplifies how acceleration mechanics enhance timing and power: the jab sets the tempo and range, allowing Lima to accelerate into heavier shots when openings appear. In his fight against Haro Matevosyan, Lima used this approach to break down his opponent’s guard and control the pace. Demonstrating the blend of soccer like footwork and sharp counters.

Lima employs smart aggression, using feints and head movement to bait attacks and respond with sharp counters. This approach relies on rapid transitions between measured movement and explosive acceleration, mirroring the quick bursts seen in soccer when a player breaks away from defenders or closes gaps. Lima’s ability to accelerate his footwork without sacrificing balance or control reflects a deep understanding of biomechanics shared by top soccer athletes. Lima embraces boxing as a disciplined art requiring endurance, heart, and strategic intelligence. His style reflects the Portuguese spirit of perseverance and humility, shaped by his upbringing and the influence of sporting icons like Ronaldo. The cross-training benefits of Lima’s multi-sport background, especially soccer, enhance his coordination, agility, spatial awareness, and acceleration—all critical for effective ring navigation and timing. Soccer’s demand for quick feet and bursts. Making Lima a versatile, adaptable fighter who harnesses acceleration and control to dominate opponents.