The Esther Phiri brand is losing its glimmer after the boxers’ farcical excursion to Kenya on Sunday
raised more controversy about her reputation and quality of her fights.
According to a local Kenyan source from Nairobi, Esther did not even fight the mysterious Fahsai Nonghampsoonbut AKA Ratree Kreakae, who without explanation, failed to fly to East Africa from Bankok for the face-off against the Zambian.
Esther instead fought and knocked out another hitherto unknown Thai boxer Viparat Lasuwan.
Not only that, but Esther did not even fight for the World International Boxing Association belt but a little known Germany-based organization called the Global Boxing Council.
The sudden change of opponent and the switch from the WIBA to GBC belt all came in a flash without a late press communiqué before and after the fight from Esther’s camp and managers Exodus Stables as fans on local TV were treated and cheated to watching the Zambian fighting a boxer who never was.
Furthermore, the fight was staged in a seedy beer garden in Nairobi that did not render the supposedly
air of importance the fight deserved.
Meanwhile, Esther, who pummeled the untraceable Lasuwan via a 4th round knockout, arrived back in Lusaka on Monday morning without even the GBC belt.
And the tale of Sundays farce deepens after the curtain-raiser that saw super bantamweight Kennedy Kanyanta face Wallace Kairu of Kenya whom he defeated on unanimous points.
Kairu was a last minute replacement to face Kanyanta after Walib Mubiru, who was on originally billed to fight the Zambian, failed to turn-up.
According to the source in Nairobi, Mubiru allegedly had a disagreement with the fights promoter.
“I understand Twalib Mubiru just did not show up,” the source said.
“I believe it had something to do with a disagreement with the promoter possibly on the purse money.”
It is sad that Esther’s first return to the place of her rise to international fame on the back of a turbulent six-title fights cannot shake off the dark cloud that still hovers over her whose highlight was her controversial split-point decision over Belinda Belinda Laracuente four bouts ago in Lusaka plus wins over a string of journeymen opponents.
The spin doctors of the Esther juggernaut have a lot to do to convince us she really is the real McCoy.
Esther is now just a cash cow for her handlers. I hope there is someone in her corner really looking out for her. Today former heavy weight champ Greg Page,died after being ill since 2001 when he suffered severe brain damage during a fight.
Huh,i cant believe what am reading.Is this how far Mr Cottan can go just for money,no wonder the fight was boring.Taapuba
Is it Esther’s fault that the guys do not turn up FORchallenge? There is only one infference that they fear her. Let’s support her till a real challenger comes. But I think no one will come along coz all fear her, period. GO GO ESTHER.
i dont understand,who did she fight
Thats is what happened?
Thats why zambia does not succeed in sport, corruption, cheating and the love of cash.
hmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Okay, imwe bantu mufuna Esther aka menyane nachipondo; Ichinyamu nyamu, musiyeni I wineko a punzilile naku leka na future yonzuna. At times Zambians worry me, I am concerned about this notion of wanting Esther to fight seasoned fighters. she has brought us enough glory, I saw her on ESPN. She has arrived at her pinnacle, with her three belts times gone by she was rated as the one of the top eight female fighters. Infact she still is so stop trying to get her to fight stringent boxers, ati go up to laila Ali level, no!!!!! let our girl glow and set up an NGO to help underpriviledged girls seek education and business skills.
No#3 Kambongolo, thank you. I could not have said it any better. Zambians need to learn how to push our own, leaving the crabs in a bucked syndrome behind today; that is our only true path to development.
LT, I don’t know if I have failed to understand your English or your reporting is not clear and accurate. Are you telling us that Esther never fought for the WIBA title and it wasn’t the opponent everyone expected or WHAT????
why do u refuse so show my comment coz i was there now i stop reading this LT its crap
wat kind of reporting is this
What a shame to our reporters. Please do a good job in future. Managers and promoters of the boxers must also relay authentic information.
Man U are world club champoins when they did not even face serious oponents for that title but who cares????? So if Easter is making money, who cares about weather she fights tougher boxes or not????? You Zambians grow up and stop majoring in minors, know what matters – MONEY!!!!!! The girl now stays in PHI while some of you critics are still sleeping in your parents kichens! I for one dont care weather she fights a dolly or a gumu-gumu as long as she is paid for it!
12 You’ve left me in stitches lol.some of you are still sleeping in your parents kitchens…Does that include Maestro H lol.My kitchen is so small that one can only sleep while standing.
This story is so badly written, i dont get it at all. What exactly happend?
No# 12 Engine Bbuloko, hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, ati or a gumu-gumu. Wakamba boi, straight to the point a things should be. hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Very embarassing. Someone owes the Zambian boxing fans a big apology.
Love Esther’s Zambian theme hair. Nomba pic webantu, is that the only one you have, with half or quarter her face? Go girl!
Esther Phiri is a legit world-class female boxer.
but this last fight in Kenya was a total farce!
i as the WIBA president propose a REAL WIBA title fight between WIBA Super Featherweight World Champion Melissa Hernandez verses GBU Super Featherweight World Champion Esther Phiri, this can be a unification of both titles or just for the WIBA title.
i would be willing to sanction this fight in Zambia or Kenya, IF:
1) i get to select all 3 judges and referee
2) i am flown in from Miami to supervise this fight for WIBA, and
3) Caleb Kuya has nothing to do with this event.
if these terms can be met, i would be willing to get Esther fight for the WIBA title in Africa.
OR if Melissa Hernandez refuses to fight in Africa, Esther can fight for the WIBA Interim World Title against a top-rated…
for the record, the WIBA DID NOT sanction this fight.
and neither Thai girl had any business being in the rihg with Esther.
the real WIBA Lightweight World Title is being fought for in Germany on June 5th.
Iwe 6, 7, and 15 ndiwe mwanawakwitu wa nkuni? I thought i was the only blogger using that name. Anyway mine is spelled in a proper tumbuka way “mwanawakwithu” yours has no h so technically they aren’t same names. However, let’s avoid using similar names here
we better debate on Marlon Zaza than these hurricane stories. Marlon knew that levy had died but the bootlickers in the name of George Duicker Mpombo were disputing this fact. Marlon knew that levy was on the LSM and whoever wanted to switch it off would render levy very much dead. We are not told how millions of dollars were spent and who exactly did what let alone china and france coming on the picture. we need the truth
DECEMBER investigate.Viva ESther,i pray that when your field is still green,retire and help the poor
Poor written, this reporter should be fired
But this does not seem to be esther’s fault! or I may not getting the prob!!!! pliz highlight
not Esther’s fault at all, nobody should be blaming her.
No# 20 Adumbu, I have been using that name for a while now, that is what people know me by hahahahaha. Since I am in the US and Asibweni you are in the land down under, therefore the spelling differences shall allow us to use the same name. So muliuli uko kuchalo cha munyinu Paul HOGANI( Paul Hogan)?Neo Ni Kumwa Tobwa, imwe ni Munkoyo hahahahahaha. God bless you Adumbu.
Why cheating Zambians; If Kuya was involved then I believe now that he is a wrong person to deal with. Its LT so far which has disclosed that Esther didn’t fight for the WIBA title and the earlier mentioned opponent (Ratree Kreakae). The other media firms are still in the dark and just reporting lies.
kwati ni nkoko
#12 Your comments are shocking to say the least. Is that your attitude towards money? Get it at whatever cost and live in a posch house? How different is that attitude from corruption? I have seen your sensible comments in the past but here, you totally missed mark and am embarrassed for you. You get money in exchange of its value my friend. This story is as clear as it can get. The Zambians boxing fans have been cheated and Esther and her managers need to apologise to the nation. Even the site womenboxing . com reports that this fight was a fake. That is not how you make real money. If you want a million dollars, please provide value or services worth a million dollars. Ask ZIMBABWE people and you will learn something about money and value. This fight was a FAKE period and we got cheated
All thoughout the fight, the commentators made us belive that esther was fighting the right opponent. were they also mis informed or did they just decide to misinform. I love Zambian Journalism. No Investigation.
Ryan iwe no 19
With broken English like that
How can you be a representative of WIBA?
Fuma apa i am sure niwebo ka Toolbox Phiri
Watushinga stoko ayi, kalale
Sometimes LT bloggers are amazing! Even after reading the story you still want to blame Phiri. If the chap she was supposed to fight never showed up how is that her fault. Typical of us Zambians we all have PHDs (Pull Him/Her Down Syndrome) Shame on you LT your headline is misleading. Correct it!
I watched the fight. It was a farce. Aba abena Cottan balelilapo pali Esther. That was a mockery of a fight.
We can’t blame Esther, blame the organisers, Cottan and company
Frankly, esther has never impressed me!
Not even once! I would advise her to stop this career of hers and switch to something else! she’s just being used all in the name of money. Esther has got a lot of examples to learn from….
Its ok thats not our problem, atleast ester will be training on these chaps
Now who is to blame, is it esther or the organiser?
#35 Baby C, good morning , why are you sounding so bitter, Lets support a fellow woman. or do you want to go in the ring yourself.
i will manage you.
Administration is very important, whether you are running a country or running sport. If the administration of your boxing stables is poor you will eventually end up fighting one armed pirates in Mogadishu. This is not Esther’s fault. But we Zambians are notorious for poor administration. You cant post your Passport to the Passport Office and expect to have it processed and sent back. It is all the same thing. Adimistration is very important, and we will just have to learn this the hard way. And one final word to this Ryan Wissow. If you are WIBA for real, you should know where to contact Esther and her managers.
Ba Honey, morning kamayo! I dont want her to end up like a destitute. I want the best for her! i believe she’s made enough and she can start doing something tangible now. bahoney are you sure you can manage me???? I knock you out in the first 3 seconds of the fight!
#35 wat u saying is crap and reading this all story is so annoying.can we please v an official statement from peter cotton coz this is a serious issue.
#40!! hmmmmm! ok! crap! thanx
This iz Zambia, the REAL AFRIKA.
The wholething about women boxing just stinks.I for one just watch male boxing!!Women just stick to what you know best…..boxing is not for you.Women were not designed for fighting….and just to see women belt it out just sucks!!
There is something fishy about this alliance between Cottan, Mwamba & Kuya. What happens to the money the sponsors put into the fight just to find that its all a farce. Esther is rated 5th in WBC, why not organise fights againist those in her class. Apart from that American boxer who pounded Esther in Lusaka, none of her other opponents have been good boxers at all.
ester elefwaikwa ukufikumanya ifimakofi ifinenene. Someone has to organise proper fights for her. I think ba Gig master ba cotton is giging ester
Zambian women have failed to prove they can compete at international level,while Chipolopolo is a recognised name in African soccer,one would expect the female natonal team to get some inspiration .They have been losing games by wide margins unlike other female nationale teams from footballing countries. Having watched some of hr fights , I believe Esther Phiri is yet to prove she is a strong contender for competitive boxing titles.
# 35 Baby C. How ungraceful, your words
You guys of the diaspora don’t cease to amaze me. You are looking down upon Esther that she fights weak contenders but are failing to realize that she wants money. Thus to her it does not matter who she fights so long she pockets. It’s just the same with you diaspora, guys you don’t mind the jobs you do for the bazungus out there. Whether It’s washing plates, making beds for the old basungus, zoo-chimpanzi etc, so long you pocket the Dollars you are happy. So let Esther also be happy.
OH MY GOD!
we were cheated, the whole fight was a 4ne i just checked out on the website (www.womenboxing.com) thanks Chinondo #29 a promoter made money out of this.
What a shame. Can some cancel the banquet at state house please!
This is sad!! What kind??
What are you saying? She is holding a WIBA belt. How did she come across this one?
I dont understand why these pipo thought they could get away with such lies. Its like Mike Tyson fights with Ba Moze and goes back and claims that he fought Muhammad Alli or joe Frazer. What lies.
#40 Baby C, Dont forget training to day , i have a 5 year old that you will fight with, then we can claim that it was lela Ali. What do you think. make sure you win.