Esther Phiri enters the ring on Saturday to face Duda Yankovich of Brazil for the WIBA welterweight title at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
For most fans, this is fight is expected to be the bout that defines Esther’s status after a string of modest opponents from her 11-fight unbeaten run.
Victory for Esther against champion in recess Duda will also earn her the respectable WIBA title which is the top tier in the long list of women’s boxing organizations.
Esther enters the ring on the back of a dramatic draw at Mulungushi against American Terri Blair last November in a bout she failed to land a decisive punch against the 8th ranked fighter on the WIBA welterweight class.
A decisive win winthin the distance of this 10-round bout will go some way in restoring some faith in her prowess in the ring from a public that enjoys a love-hate relationship with the fighter.
Meanwhile, Duda returns to the ring for the first time since June last year when she lost to Holy Holm in her first fight outside Brazil and injury later kept her of action before making the trip to Zambia.
With one defeat from 12 fights the Serbian-born Brazilian has vowed to bounce back this weekend after losing to Holm when she faces-off against Esther.
Good luck mama…you will need it! do Zambia proud!
Sorry mum, you will be badly beaten…that’s my prediction, cause each time you fought you have always been getting worse and worse
I am confident Ester will put up a spirited fight. She is fighting a very strong boxer who she can only defeat technically, not on toe-to-toes basis. I am glad Anthony camped with her briefly in Florida; that stint gives Ester 60% advantage. ALL THE BEST YOUNG LADY!!!
Ask my prediction? It will surely snow heavily in Lusaka on Sunday should esther win this fight. :)>-
Esther Phiri would do well to make her attaire and language sobre and civil.
Good Luck Esther…….you certainly need it this time!
All the best Esther!!!
Great stuff from Ester she won cleanly VIVA !
how is the fight between ester and duda?
ZAMBIA’S female boxing sensation Esther Phiri is the new Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) welterweight World Champion following a convincing 10-round unanimous decision victory over Duda Yankovinch.
Esther beat the Brazilian born American defending champion to win a sixth successive title at the Mulungushi International Conference Center tonight.
Entering the ring as an underdog against muscular Yankovich, Esther had to prove that boxing is not won by stature but with tactics and she did just that.
In round one Esther tried to shy away from the lofty pugilist who had earlier sent pressure to Esther’s camp by vowing to bring down the Zambian in the first three rounds, but Yankovich did not show any aggression leaving Esther to do the job in round two onwards…
esther has hammered duda. namu dudula.
Esther’s ever cheering fans greatly contributed to her morale in the following rounds as she reduced the Brazilian to a very big punching bag.
If Yankovich’s stature was anything to go by, Esther would have had a tough time winning tonight’s fight, but to her the opponent’s body only meant a very big target.
In fact, in round 7, 8, and 9, Yankovich became too weak to defend herself and she head butted Esther three times as she perhaps wished she could use her feet which she is probably better at.
After ten grueling rounds, the results were announced, judge one, 100-92, judge two 100-95, judge three 100 -91 all in favour of Esther.
After the fight, Yankovich accepted the verdict saying “Esther was in the best shape than me and she really punched me up all over but I am…
After the fight, Yankovich accepted the verdict saying “Esther was in the best shape than me and she really punched me up all over but I am willing to face her again in a rematch because I am going back into training.”
And Esther said “Boxing is won through tactics so it was not about the body, I am happy I have proved to every one that I am the best.”
Apart from the newly won WIBA title, Esther is the Women International Boxing Federation (WIBF) featherweight Intercontinental and World champion, she is also the Global Boxing Union (GBU) super featherweight Intercontinental and World Champion as well as the Global Boxing Council (GBC) light weight title holder.
congrats ester for the title
#4 moderator. You should learn to believe in your own. You lack confidence and optimism and on this one you have shown your typical witch hunting belief and village mentality. As the saying goes, you can talke the leopard out of the bush but you cant take the bush out of teh leopard.
Esther has defeated Duda! Has snow now fallen in Lusaka. It appears that yu are out of touch on what is happening on the ground in Zambia. Some people suffred a lot in Zambia before migrating Kubulaya and have no belief and lost hope on whatsoever associated with Zambuia. Congrats Esther! Viva Zambia!