Boxer Fatuma Zarika. [Photo/mkenyaujerumani.de]
Zarika, Kenya’s World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight women’s champion, has promised to teach Zambian Catherine Phiri a lesson as she defends her title in November.
Zarika made history last year after defeating veteran Alicia Ashley from Jamaica on points. She became the first Kenyan boxer to win the prestigious World Boxing Council (WBC) world title.
Speaking in Las Vegas where she is undergoing intensive training at Berry’s Boxing Gym, Zarika promised to defend her title against the Zambian by ending the match in the early stages of the fight.
Phiri became the first female Zambian and African to win the coveted WBC title last year. This was after a majority technical decision at the end of the sixth round which dethroned ex-champion, Mexican Yazmin ‘Rusita’ Rivas.
Fatuma admitted that Phiri was not to be underestimated but the game plan was to come at her hard and finish in the early stages. The two contenders have never fought and Zarika is depending on YouTube videos to identify her opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.