Duda "The Cameleon" Yankovich, 5'6", 144 lbs.,  was born in Yugoslavia (Today known as Serbia, and Montenegro), in the small city of Jagodina on September 27, 1976.  [Photo Slideshow]

Duda was interested in sports early on, but she started to get involved with Martial Arts at the age of 11.  Duda trained in Karate (Shotokan-ITKF) from 11 to 18 years old.  She was a junior athlete but competed in both, junior and adult at the time.

When Duda was just 14 years old, she successfully earned her Black Belt making her the youngest Black Belt in Serbia.

Between the age of 16-18 years old, Duda was part of the National female team.  In April 1994, She competed in the European Championship in the City of Prag, Chech Republic, she took second place and won a silver medal.  In May, of the same year, Duda took third place and won the bronze metal in the Junior World Championship, Zakopane Town, Poland. Duda began taking kickboxing training (W.A.K.O. Federation), and very quickly became a national champion at 135 lbs., first time in 1996 and, then again in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

Also, during that time, Duda competed in two European (1996-Ygoslavia/ 1998 Germany), and two world amateur championships (1997 Poland / 1999 Italy).

In April 1998, Duda became the Mediterrean Champion and a month later, champion of Balcans (Kickboxing/Full Contact).

After 77 days of war in Belgrade, in 1999, the situation in the country was not good for sports. So, Duda decided after almost a year of waiting, to move out of the country.

She had fought in Brazil, in January of 1998, and had won both fights (as a guest from Yugoslavia), so she made some contacts and she decided to move to Brazil.  After moving to Brazil, she became the Brazilian kickboxing champion for 2001, 2002, and 2003. 

Duda won the gold medal in the Panamerican open amateur kickboxiing champion in 2000, and another two gold medals in the South American Amateur Kickboxing Championship in 2001 and 2003.

In 2002, Duda got involved in amateur boxing. She did one exhibition match, and a coach from one of the National Male Teams saw the fight and invited her to train in boxing.  Duda went on to become the Brazilian boxing amateur champion in 2002, for the first time, and then again in 2003, and 2004 in the 140 lbs. weight class.

In the meantime, Duda did not have many fights in kickboxing, so she decided to get more involved in boxing, and she gradually stopped kickboxing.

Duda was the only female athlete to be approved to spend 10 months training in the Brazilian Men's Training camp.  She also spend four months with the team of Aclino Freitas, ex-world boxing champion. 

In April of 2005, Duda represented Brazil in the "Frist Panamerican female boxing amateur championship. (Buenos Argentina)., and she took third place, and a bronze medal.  She lost in the semi-finals by points from Canadian Champion, and also the world champion, Katie "Silence" Dunn.

After that, Duda received an invitation to make her professional debut, and she accepted.

On July 23, 2005, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, she made her pro debut against Guillermina Fernandez of Argentina. The two fought four rounds, with Duda winning by KO in the fourth round. 

On October 29, 2005, in Sano Paulo, Brazil, Yankovich, 141, stopped Sandra Santos, 138.9,  in the 42 seconds of the first round. Santos was making her pro debut.  Yankovich is now 2-0-0 (1KO).  This was a scheduled four-round bout at 141 lbs. Yankovich told WBAN, that she hopes to be able to get a rematch with her first opponent Guillhermina Fernandes, who wants to fight Duda again.

On May 13, 2006, at the Conjunto Desportivo Baby Barione, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on the undercard, Yankovich, 139¼, won by KO over Angie Paola Rocha, 136½,  0:42 seconds, in the fourth round.

On August 11, 2006 in Brazil, Yankovich won the 63,5kg national Brazilian professional title when she  TKO'd Leticia Rojo in the fifth round (1:12 seconds). The fight was scheduled for six rounds. [Photo Slideshow]

On August 26, 2006, in -Santo Andre, Brazil, Yankovich [5–0 (5KOs)], the Serbian who lives and fights in Brazil, improved her chances of obtaining a world title fight in the near future when she stopped Gabriela Marcela “La Aventurera" (The Mercenary) Zapata [4–1 (3KOs)] of Argentina in Santo André, Sao Paulo, on Saturday evening. According to Brazilian sources, the fight, which was dominated by Yankovich, was stopped in the second round by referee Denis Sponton on account of the profusion of blood issuing from the nose of the Argentinian.

On September 30, 2006 in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Yankovich won by six-round majority decision over Silvia Zacarias, pro debut.  Final judges scores were 59-57, 58-58, and 59-56. 

On November 25, 2006, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Yankovich, 138, of Brazil, won a 10-round unanimous decision over Darys Pardo, 139, Colombia, and became the WIBA light welterweight world champion. According to Ryan Wissow, the fight was a brawl from start to finish, with Yankovich edging Pardo early on with her speed and skills, and pouring it on late with her strength and punching power. Judges scores were 100-89, 100-90, 100-88. 

Duda is also involved in other sports that includes Snowboarding, diving, paragliding, roller street skating, climbing, and surfing.  Even though Duda has experienced physical injuries, i.e., two-time broken nose, two broken ribs, broken tibial bone, and broken hand, it never has stopped her. Duda likes the challenge!

WEB SITE : WWW.DUDAYANKOVICH.NET
TOP/SIDE PHOTO:  COPYRIGHTED BY OTAVIO DIAS