Catherine Phiri enters the ring on Saturday night in the battle of the ages against Christina McMahon of the Irish Republic the interim WBC bantamweight title at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka
This is Catherine’s first fight since her now forgotten one-sided contest against Kukiwe Nonina of South Africa that ended in controversial fashion when her opponent failed to come out for the third round after taking some early punishment.
From fighting a 24-year-old six months ago, the 22-year-old Zambian female boxer now fights McMahon who at 40-years-old is at the ripe old age of hanging up her gloves rather than stepping into the ring.
McMahon, who is unbeaten with six straight wins since entering the sport in 2007, was a late replacement after 31-year-old Carolina Rodriguez of Mexico declined to fight Catherine.
However, Catherine strongly believes the Irishwoman will be a worthy opponent despite concerns about her age and quality of opposition.
“I can’t judge McMahon by her record, it doesn’t matter whether one has a lot of fights or not,” Catherine said.
“If anything her record speaks volumes, she is unbeaten.”
As long as it will be in Zambia, then Catherine will win.
Just by the way the Zambians cheer the fights, it is so damn annoying. But if the visiting boxer takes too personal, then we may end-up with a case when that Bwalya was beaten to death by a Briton in the 1990s. Ati awa ni malaria… balimuponona Bwalya muleumfwako fye, and all because of fans.