Quebecer Marie-Pier Houle lost by unanimous decision on Saturday to Briton Sandy Ryan, new welterweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
The judges ruled 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 in favor of the 29-year-old Englishwoman after 10 rounds of the fight at Cardiff International Arena.
The title that was vacant therefore belongs to the boxer from Derby, who increased her record to 6-1-0, including two knockouts.
Houle, from Terrebonne, was in his first career 10-round fight. His record is now 8-1-1, including two wins by knockout.
More physically imposing and more sustained in his attacks, Ryan underlined his advantage in the last round, with three good sequences.
She put the pressure on by bringing Houle into the ropes with 1:40 to go, then again with 45 seconds on the clock, hitting the target in the body. She also dominated with 10 seconds to box, reaching the lead of the 32-year-old Quebecer.
It was in the sixth round that Ryan began to impose his will more clearly, clearly hitting the head and body. The engagement ended with a sustained salvo from the Briton, with Houle on the ropes.
Houle looked good here and there in the following rounds, including a jab to the chin from Ryan in the eighth round.
However, Ryan never looked in big trouble, then she fought back with a solid right uppercut with 30 seconds left in the ninth round.
In the fourth round, Ryan shone for about 15 seconds towards the end of the engagement, after Houle landed a good but brief series of punches.