President Edgar Lungu of Zambia has congratulated Catherine Phiri for winning the new commonwealth and African Bantam weight champion title of the women World Boxing Council (WBC).
This is according to a congratulatory message released on President Lungu’s official facebook page.
The President has also praised the Oriental Quarries for consistently supporting the sport through Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions.
Zambia’s female sensational boxer Catherine Phiri became the first Zambian to win the World Boxing Council –WBC title after she dethroned the WBC Female Bantamweight Champion Yazmin Rivas of Mexico on Saturday January 30, 2016.
According FightNews, Catherine was quicker and sharper as she stood toe-to-toe with Yazimin and took a technical decision as well as her WBC Female bantamweight title after six rounds.
In what the media described as a shocker, Catherine caused an upset by defeating Yazmin via a technical decision after an accidental head butt ended the fight.
Despite being thousands of miles away from home, Catherine was fearless as she scored the better and harder punches in exchanges with Yazimin.
An accidental head butt near the end of the sixth round opened up a gash over Yazimin’s right eyes.
Referee Raul Caiz then took a point off from Phiri while the fight was waived off by the ringside doctor Ernesto Franco.
The decision went to the scorecards with Carla Caiz seeing it an even 57-57 while her fellow judges; Sergio and Raul, overruled her with scores of 58-56 and 59-55 respectively in favor of the Zambian.
Catherine Phiri becomes the first Zambian to win the linear WBC title after the legendary Lottie Mwale failed at the attempt in the 80s when he lost to Saad Muhammad.
Source: ZNBC/FightNews
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
