World Boxing Council (WBC) Gold Bantamweight Champion Catherine Phiri has successfully weighed in with 53.4 kilograms ahead of tomorrow’s WBC Gold female Championship bout against South Africa’s Gabisile Tshabalala.
But panic engrossed the South African team when Gabisile over weighed above the needed weight of 53. 525 kilograms.
Gabisile was later given two hours to condense her weight in which her trainers run up and down and managed to make her reduce her weight within 30 minutes to weigh 53.4 kilograms.
Gabisile’s manager Mtolisi Gumede who showed excitement said he worried less of the overweight and he is focusing on grabbing the title from Catherine.
Meanwhile, fight supervisor who is also African Boxing Union Vice President Malefetsane Peter Ngatane officially announced the validity and legality of tomorrow’s bout.
Dr. Ngatane however added that had Gabisile failed to reduce her weight within two hours, the bout was going to go ahead with conditions attached to the fight.
He explained that in an event that Gabisile won the fight after weighing overweight, neither Catherine nor she was going to have the title and it was going to be declared vacant.
Meanwhile, Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions Manager Christopher Malunga thanked Oriental Quarries Management for making the event possible.
Seven supporting bouts will be staged before the main bout. Among them is the non-title weight fight between Zambia’s Lolita Muzeya and Anita Bashil of Malawi.
Others are enterprising young boxer Alfred Muwowo of Zambia against Mohamed Alkaida of Tanzania in a non-title flyweight bout, as well as non-title weight between Charles Manyuchi of Oriental Quarries and Deogratias Samawell of Tanzania.
Meanwhile, Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) has appealed to members of the public not to wear political regalia and sing political songs at the World Boxing Council (WBC) Gold Bantamweight title bout between Zambia’s Catherine Phiri and South African Gabisile Tshabalala at government complex in Lusaka tomorrow.
OQBP operations manager Chris Malunga said boxing like any other sport in Zambia should foster friendships, unity and promote peace amongst people.
Malunga said it will not be wise for anyone to put on political regalia or sing political songs during Saturday’s WBC boxing bouts.
Speaking during Radio 2’s breakfast show monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka today, Malunga urged Zambians to turn up in large numbers and support Catherine Phiri who will this Saturday defend her WBC gold title that she won after defeating Mexico’s Yazmin Rivas.
Malunga added that people should come as one united Zambia and set aside any divergent opinions rally behind Zambian boxers in tomorrow’s WBC bouts.
He said Catherine Phiri is more than ready to defend her title and urged fans to turn up in large numbers to watch the fight.
“She is more than ready. Fans just need to support her in numbers,” said Malunga.
Pictures Courtesy of Jean Mandela
Ka gelo kuwama kaku sa
Cathy is VERY beautiful 😀
Congrats Catherine for keeping your natural skin. You are so beautiful.
The message should have been no PF regalia as it is only them who wear theirs in public.
Please be very strict with that dressing code!!
Man that Cath Phiri has a six pack for days!!!
I also checked out the six pack
it will be very entertaining bout cath is read .
Cathy ours zambian a must win fight…………….
I think the tshabalala girl will not survive up to the third round.
What a knock out. Thanks Catherine for making us proud again. Keep it up and for sure please now focus on your studies. All the best
Well done Cathrine. keep it up