Catherine Phiri upbeat
DESPITE losing twice this year, Catherine Phiri says she has not lost focus and will soon retain the status of a champion.
Catherine failed to dethrone Kenya’s Fatuma Zarika in last Saturday’s World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight fight in Nairobi as she lost on unanimous points and pocketed US $4,000.
The loss came barely seven months after she relinquished her WBC World bantamweight title to Mexican Mariana Juarez in a unanimous decision on April 1, this year in Mexico City.
Speaking at a press briefing at Top Star offices in Lusaka yesterday the Zambian sensational female boxer said the loss had not killed the boxing spirit in her.
“I lost because Zarika, is a good boxer. I am happy that I have lost twice to very good boxers but that has not shattered the boxing spirit in me. I have not lost focus and still determined to retain the status of a champion,” she said.
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) operations manager Christopher Malunga said they had plans of hosting a rematch for Catherine next year.
Malunga said Zarika was a good boxer that Catherine would desire to dethrone.
“We intend to push for a rematch for Catherine. Our boxer started on a slow note and Zarika took hold of the opportunity in first four rounds,
“Though we are shocked that the Kenyan doctor could not stop the match in the eighth round after Zarika was injured from Catherine’s blows and bled heavily, maybe they were scared that Catherine would win on technical knockout,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malunga said Catherine was set to fight in the December International tournament set for December 30 at Mulungushi International Conference centre. He said she will either face a Tanzanian or Zimbabwean in a non-title fight. Malunga announced K350, 000 had been raised from the K680, 000 budget for the hosting of the tournament.