Zarika itching to introduce Phiri to her ‘Iron Fist’

World Boxing Council (WBC) Super bantamweight champion, Fatuma Zarika sized up her Zambian challenger, Catherine Phiri on Thursday and declared it was time for her ‘Iron Fist’ to do the talking.

The pair will fight for the title on Saturday in Nairobi as they squared up at a pre-fight press conference at the Carnivore Grounds where the Kenyan will put her title on the line.

“I want Phiri to feel what my hands are made of. I want the fans to be thrilled and I’m eager to bring back the glory days of boxing where spectators shouted themselves hoarse and cheered at every jab thrown in the ring.

“I want the fans to be on the edge of their seats all throughout,” the Kenyan pledged.

She cautioned her opponent against expecting much movement as she promised to rain blows on the Zambian.

Unlike the past when she struggled to honour her fights, Zarika is grateful to her current sponsors, a gaming firm, for catering for her preparations for the mega fight that included a two-month training stint in United States.

She urged the Government, through its Ministry for Sports, Culture and the Arts to support her and fellow local boxers in the same manner as America.

Her opponent Phiri said: “It is only important that I win this belt, I want to tell Zarika it will be fireworks. I will have no mercy on her.” The Zambian is bidding for another WBC crown after losing the bantamweight title earlier this year in Mexico.

The much-awaited boxing night event in Nairobi will feature nine fights roping in other boxers from Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and the USA.

Zarika’s agent Ejay Mathews from Las Vegas-based Bigger Than Life Entertainment said he will work more with sports investors to ensure that Nairobi becomes the hub of boxing akin to Las Vegas.

The Kenyan titleholder will be putting her belt on the line for the first time since her scheduled rematch against Jamaican Alicia Ashley whom she dethroned last year failed to take place in July.