Delfine Persoon


Delfine Persoon is a Belgian professional boxer. She held the IBF female lightweight title in 2012 and the WBC female lightweight title from 2014 to June 2019, losing the title in a unification fight against Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight championship.

Professional boxing career

Persoon, who works as a railway policewoman, started professional boxing in 2009, after a career in competitive judo.
In March 2011 she became European female lightweight against Nicole Boss. She successfully defended her title in November 2011 against Myriam Dellal.
In February 2012, Persoon won the WIBF lightweight title with a technical knockout against Lucia Morelli. In September 2012 she added the IBF female lightweight title with a technical knockout against Erin McGowan. In January 2013, she successfully defended her WIBF title against Anita Torti, winning by unanimous decision.
In March 2013, Persoon won a final eliminator against Kremena Petkova by knockout in the second round, gaining the right to challenge Érica Farías for the WBC female lightweight title. In September 2013 she was stripped of the IBF title for inactivity, having failed to defend it in the intervening year.
In December 2013, she won a unification fight with Lucia Morelli for the WIBF and WBF titles.
On 20 April 2014, Persoon won the WBC title by unanimous decision against Farias.

Persoon vs. Taylor

In December 2018, it was revealed that Persoon offered $100,000 to IBF and WBA champion Katie Taylor for a fight. Taylor's manager however stated that "Taylor would not even get out of bed for this sum." Eventually, a lightweight unification fight between Persoon and Taylor was set for 1 June 2019, at the Madison Square Garden in New York, on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. heavyweight world title fight. In addition to all four sanctioning body's titles being on the line, The Ring magazine belt was also at stake. Persoon's management labelled Taylor's team "totally disrespectful" and claimed "psychological warfare" after a series of late fight week demands. This included forcing Persoon to switch hotels as Taylor was staying in the same hotel, demanding that she take an additional blood test and prove Persoon has exercise asthma. Taylor won a controversial majority decision to become the undisputed lightweight champion.

Super-featherweight

On 11 November 2019, Persoon won the WBA interim super-featherweight title beating Helen Joseph by unanimous decision.

Persoon vs. Taylor II

A rematch with Taylor took place on 22 August 2020 at the Matchroom Sport headquarters in Brentwood, Essex, for the undisputed female lightweight title. Persoon lost by unanimous decision.

Persoon vs. Baumgardner

Persoon challenged Alycia Baumgardner for WBC super-featherweight title on 27 September 2024 in Atlanta, USA. The fight was stopped in the fourth round and ruled a no contest due to a cut Persoon suffered over her right eye from an accidental clash of heads.

Persoon vs. Veyre

Persoon is scheduled to fight Caroline Veyre for the vacant WBC female super-featherweight title at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, on 10 February 2026.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
55Win50–3 Ana Maria LozanoTKO6, 1:5322 Jun 2025Coretec Dome, Oostende, Belgium
54NCAlycia Baumgardner4 Ana Maria Lozano27 Sep 2024 Lux Studios, Atlanta, U.S.For WBC, IBF, WBO, WBA & The Ring female super featherweight titles;
Persoon suffered a cut above her right eye due to a head clash in the fourth round
53Win49–3 Agustina Marisa Belen RojasUD61 Nov 2023Izegem, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
52Win48–3 Bo Mi Re ShinSD1028 May 2023Sportcentrum Van steenland, Torhout, BelgiumRetained WBC Silver female super featherweight title
51NC47–3 Ikram Kerwat1, 1:0613 Nov 2022Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai, UAERetained WBC Silver female super featherweight title;
Persoon hit Kerwat when she was on the ground following a knockdown
50Win47–3Elhem MekhaledUD1021 May 2022Etihad Arena, Abu DhabiWon vacant WBC Silver female super featherweight title
49Win46–3Beatriz AguilarRTD4 1 Nov 2021Izegem, Belgium
48Win45–3Elena GradinarUD103 Jul 2021Eernegem, BelgiumWon vacant WBO Intercontinental super featherweight title
47Loss44–3Katie TaylorUD1022 Aug 2020Matchroom Fight Camp, Brentwood, EnglandFor WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female lightweight titles
46Win44–2Helen JosephUD1011 Nov 2019Versluys Dôme, Ostend, BelgiumWon WBA interim female super-featherweight title
45Loss43–2Katie Taylor101 Jun 2019Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Lost WBC female lightweight title;
For WBA, IBF, WBO, and inaugural The Ring female lightweight titles
44Win43–1Melissa St. VilRTD7, 2:009 Mar 2019Kortrijk, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
43Win42–1Judy WaguthiiTKO10 8 Dec 2018Ardooie, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
42Win41–1Natalia del Valle AguirreUD109 Jun 2018Sportcentrum, Ichtegem, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
41Win40–1Monica GentiliUD820 Jan 2018Moorslede, Belgium
40Win39–1Myriam DellalUD1011 Nov 2017Zwevezele, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
39Win38–1Everline OderoDQ8 25 Dec 2016Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium
38Win37–1Ruth Stephanie AquinoDQ1 11 Nov 2016Sporthal De zwaluw, Zwevezele, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
37Win36–1Christina LinardatouUD104 Jun 2016Sporthal Schiervelde, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
36Win35–1Maïva HamadoucheUD1011 Nov 2015Zwevezele, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
35Win34–1Jane KavulaniUD826 Sep 2015Gits, Belgium
34Win33–1Nicole BossTKO9, 0:4525 Apr 2015Sternensaal, Bern, SwitzerlandRetained WBC female lightweight title
33Win32–1Florence MuthoniTKO8 28 Feb 2015Ghelamco Arena, Ghent, Belgium
32Win31–1Diana PrazakTKO9, 1:2811 Nov 2014Zwevezele, BelgiumRetained WBC female lightweight title
31Win30–1Judy WaguthiiUD827 Sep 2014Zaal Ogierlande, Gits, Belgium
30Win29–1Érica FaríasUD1020 Apr 2014Zwevezele, BelgiumWon WBC female lightweight title
29Win28–1Lucia MorelliTKO10, 1:1913 Dec 2013Zaal Forum, Aalst, BelgiumRetained WIBF lightweight title;
Won WIBA, and WBF female lightweight titles
28Win27–1Eva BajicTKO3 11 Nov 2013Zwevezele, Belgium
27Win26–1Irma Balijagic AdlerUD84 Oct 2013Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
26Win25–1Galina GumliiskaTKO2 23 Aug 2013Kursaal, Ostend, Belgium
25Win24–1Kremena PetkovaKO2 29 Mar 2013Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
24Win23–1Fatuma ZarikaUD823 Feb 2013Sporthal Schiervelde, Roeselare, Belgium
23Win22–1Anita TortiUD1012 Jan 2013Sporthal Sint Pieter, Sint Truiden, BelgiumRetained WIBF lightweight title
22Win21–1Marianna GulyasKO3 1 Nov 2012Sporthal, Izegem, Belgium
21Win20–1Erin McGowanTKO7, 1:4821 Sep 2012Lotto Arena, Antwerp, BelgiumWon vacant IBF female lightweight title
20Win19–1Valija LasmanovicaTKO3 29 Jun 2012Moorslede, Belgium
19Win18–1Loli MunozUD827 Apr 2012Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
18Win17–1Lucia MorelliTKO5 25 Feb 2012Expo-Hallen, Roeselare, BelgiumWon WIBF lightweight title
17Win16–1Myriam DellalUD101 Nov 2011Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, BelgiumRetained European female lightweight title
16Win15–1Angel McKenzieUD630 Sep 2011Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
15Win14–1Milena KolevaUD824 Jun 2011Feesttent, Torhout, Belgium
14Win13–1Floarea LihetUD61 Apr 2011Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Ghent, Belgium
13Win12–1Nicole BossUD105 Mar 2011Sporthal, Lichtervelde, BelgiumWon vacant European female lightweight title
12Win11–1Daniela David3 25 Dec 2010Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium
11Win10–1Mirabela CalugareanuKO2 10 Dec 2010Grote Markt, Sint Niklaas, Belgium
10Loss9–1Zelda TekinTKO4 1 Nov 2010Stedelijke Sporthalle, Izegem, Belgium
9Win9–0Zelda Tekin2 9 Oct 2010Sporthal De Branding, Middelkerke, Belgium
8Win8–0Kristine ShergoldUD811 Sep 2010Studio hall, Bruges, Belgium
7Win7–0Nicky MutsaertKO2 24 May 2010Brielpoort, Deinze, Belgium
6Win6–0Arlene de FreitasUD630 Apr 2010Sporthal Tempelhof, Bruges, Belgium
5Win5–0Julie RobertUD86 Mar 2010Zaal Ogierlande, Oostkamp, Belgium
4Win4–0Arlene de FreitasUD65 Dec 2009BC Noble Art, Deinze, Belgium
3Win3–0Mariska Mulder2 21 Nov 2009Sporthal Riderfort, Oostkamp, Belgium
2Win2–0Renáta Szebelédi64 Oct 2009Olympia Stadion, Marke, Belgium
1Win1–0Jana Latova2 23 May 2008Zaal Ogierlande, Gits, Belgium