File:Boxing champion Esther Phiri talking to a MUVI TV crew

By Lusakatimes sports

Zambia’s fantastic three all won their respective fights this evening at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

Torch bearers of Zambian boxing Esther Phiri, Kennedy Kanyanta and welterweight prospect Hastings Bwalya all recorded important career wins against their foreign opponents.

Phiri beat Colombian Lely Luz Florez via unanimous point’s decision in the WIBA and IBO light welterweight unification bout.

The fight was close although Phiri barely broke any sweat against Florez on her way to picking up the vacant IBO crown.

Phiri won 97-94, 97-93, 100-91 to stretched her unbeaten run to 13 successive fights and go 12-2-2 while Florez record now stands at 16-5-0.

ABU super featherweight champion Kanyanta was too good for South African Zolile Mbityi whom he knocked down twice in the fourth round to win via a knockout the vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super flyweight title.

Meanwhile, the much anticipated professional home debut by USA -based Bwalya was somewhat subdued who won by a unanimous decision over Silas Mandeya of Zimbabwe.

Mandeya went toe-to-toe with Bwalya but the latter was more accurate with his punching to win 59-55, 60-53, 60-54 in their six-round non-title bout.

They were also a big win for the classy Zimbabwean talent Charles Manyuchi who dominated and out-boxed local Isaiah Chilufya over six rounds.

Bantamweight Jama Mohamud won via a split-points decision and was too good for Emmanuel Simbeye in their 6-round non-title bout.

And Anos Temfuma beat Masozi Kamanga in an unwatchable cruiserweight non-title fight on points.

38 COMMENTS

Yambayamba January 30, 2011 At 12:02 am

Poseni Inkonya bane, bamu, bamu, bamu, bamu, ama Zambian awina, ayeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Twitter January 30, 2011 At 12:03 am

Job well done to our Zambian Boxers, this is good news and we look forward to see you all prosper in future. Proud to be a Zambian.
Lepercaun January 30, 2011 At 12:09 am

Let it be lesson to all leaders that you can fall,people power is the most powerful.Egypt where some of you swear by is going.
OCTOPUS PAUL BWALYA January 30, 2011 At 12:10 am

congrats keep it up ether
OCTOPUS PAUL BWALYA January 30, 2011 At 12:12 am

congrats keep it up esther
Lepercaun January 30, 2011 At 12:22 am

Sorry it shoulda have been let it be a lesson@3 above
Rupiah Gbagbo Banda January 30, 2011 At 12:24 am

Congratulations to all our gallant boxers. You make our nation proud. It time we looked at giving a reasonable financial allocation to others sports other than put all our eggs in one basket (football).

While football is like a religion in Zambia, fact is sports like boxing have brought more honour to the country and have scored more success than football
London January 30, 2011 At 12:43 am

Just forget football and invest in boxing since FAZ is now Kalusha’s person to holder business.These boxers have always put Zambia on the Map what cup did your Kalusha bring remember the mighy and great Late Lottie Mwale ( MISRIP).
Academic Worrior January 30, 2011 At 12:47 am

Congratulations to our talented boxers. I wish our national soccer team was as smart as you are.
King Solomon January 30, 2011 At 1:22 am

Pa Zed.

Keep it up.

Joke or not,Edward Nkoloso was right.Zed is best in all areas.Sleeping giant.
Mwanawakwitu January 30, 2011 At 5:51 am

congratulations to Esther Phiri the greatest sports icon Zambia has ever had.
hustler ninebo baiche January 30, 2011 At 6:19 am

DELETED AFTER FIVE COMPLAINTS
hustler ninebo baiche January 30, 2011 At 6:20 am

DELETED AFTER FIVE COMPLAINTS
hustler ninebo baiche January 30, 2011 At 6:21 am

DELETED AFTER FIVE COMPLAINTS
mukabe January 30, 2011 At 6:39 am

Its high time boxing started attracting serious Investment as well. We need decent purse moneys not just for Ester but all other boxers, who are putting in a lot of there time and Energy.
Let’s collectively work on icreasing the boxing Bar in Zambia.
Umwina Nkana January 30, 2011 At 6:57 am

Too much noise in FAZ and no results! In boxing results do all the talking!
Next President January 30, 2011 At 7:06 am

Mwanawakwitu, Esther is good but saying she is Zambia’s greatest sporting icon ever is an insult to real icons like Lottie Mwale, Godfrey Chitalu, Yotam Muleya, Samuel Matete etc. Esther hasnt even won a WBC proper belt yet
Samba waiona January 30, 2011 At 8:07 am

Y cant esther stat knockin our her opponents? Mwamba shud train her t floor her opponents en so she can win convincingly,next time she mayb fightin outside the country,she wil also b fightin against the judges,she wil need a knock out
NAPAPA SANA!!!!!! January 30, 2011 At 8:09 am

Our boxers are performing well most of the times. Is it because they are not under FAZ??
muso January 30, 2011 At 8:56 am

Ester must get married now.
hustler ninebo baiche January 30, 2011 At 9:32 am

#20 Muso,go and marry her.
IMITWE SHA MANO January 30, 2011 At 9:46 am

This is the time for Esther to make money. Dont think of marriage as you are now a Gold mine. Make money before you get married. You ll now get big offers
jackal January 30, 2011 At 9:58 am

whats up with football..is it Galu again..?hehehee..congrats guys..
Mpangula Mputyu January 30, 2011 At 10:00 am

ESTER IS WELL CATERED FOR. FOR THE OTHERS I’M NOT SURE, SOMEONE TO SPEND TIME WITH THE BOXERS TO TEACH THEM ON LIFE SAVING & INVESTIMENTS. WE DONT WANT ABENA KANYANTA & HASTINGS TO FINISH LIKE WAWA CHONGO & ELIJAH LITANA.
Tribalist January 30, 2011 At 10:38 am

No congratulation. We are just too tired of these punch bags. The truth is that Ester just does not have true challengers. All they do in the ring is wait for the final whistle and get the run-up medal. And the way Ester celebrated yesterday, its like she didn’t expect to win or that she has become too rusty to win. Go get married sister. You’ve been fondled enough in the name of boxing.
Chitapankwa January 30, 2011 At 11:30 am

May Kalusha will take over boxing in ZED and start managing Esther.
Sharp Shooter January 30, 2011 At 12:14 pm

#2o Muso
Go to the Zambian gossip on-line newapaper(Kachepa360),you will see Esther and her dude.They look alike..lol
Uncle PSK January 30, 2011 At 12:47 pm

Esther and the group have made us proud. Bravo!!!
Nine Chale January 30, 2011 At 1:36 pm

Well done Esther & Hastings. Take Zambian sports to a higher level.
L P F MWANAWASI January 30, 2011 At 1:39 pm

congrates ester may sky be the limit for career
flight 1 January 30, 2011 At 8:16 pm

well done Zambian.twawina again.yeah yeah yeah.
Rejected Mwelwa January 31, 2011 At 8:47 am

Congratulations lady boxer. I advise that you start thinking of retiring. Dont continue to be misused be mindful of your health especially the everlasting consequences which may not be corrected.
Smigo January 31, 2011 At 9:46 am

Why do people keep supporting this bloody and violent Sport? Remember Lot Mwale and Felix Bwalya?
matuvi January 31, 2011 At 10:33 am

Boxing is confusing ..Too many titles to fight for WIBA,WIBO,WBA,IBA,WOBA ETC no wonder us in the diaspora when we talk about Ester to our foreign friends they dont know her, because i think she is fighting in these tuma ma small belts. Can she qualify for world women boxing champion? what do they call it? Aslo why esther did not come for olympics in beijing sembe ninachitako yachiblacky kale sana
panyini January 31, 2011 At 10:40 am

Congratulations Mwana wakwithu kumawa, but uyu mubemba Anthony Mwamba uchenjele naye ngako chifukwa he will be getting too much VAT at the same time why to be trained by a Bemba? Infact who is this guy ? where has he fought in Zambia apart from ndewo za mu moba. Did you pass your grade 7 iam told results are out
No Name Brand January 31, 2011 At 11:30 am

“…..while Florez record now stands at 16-5-0” how? she just lost!
jojo January 31, 2011 At 12:40 pm

congraturations esther phiri your are there at the top. there are not more than five good boxer you haven’t fought in you catigory.am not like tribalist who just talk yet he nows nothing about boxing. esther you are good. even the two boxers you fought with difficauties you can now face them with confidence
Tamba Elo Ulande February 2, 2011 At 7:38 pm

while its nice that they won,i feel Easther should retire now with dignity not after losing no.thats what lottie mwale made a mistake.