By GWEN CHIPASULA –
ESTHER Phiri says she cannot wait to beat Sandra Almeida to grab the Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) and World Boxing Federation (WBF) welterweight unification titles.
The two boxers would exchange punches on May 22 at the Government Complex in Lusaka.

• BOXER Esther Phiri (centre), her trainer Anthony Mwamba (left) and Superior Milling managing director Peter Cottan during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by GWEN CHIPASULA

Esther said this yesterday when Hotel Inter-Continental donated K50,000 and three VIP rooms towards Exodus International Boxing Promotions (EIBP) hosting the unification fight.
“I am ready to beat Sandra and grab the belt. I am just urging all the boxing fans to come in numbers and witness this fight as I bid to win the titles. I know I was off the ring for sometime but this is reason enough to return my belt because this is my job, boxing is my everything and Sandra should watch out,” she said.
Trainer Antony Mwamba commended Hotel Inter-Continental for the gesture, saying it has helped reduce the burden on hosting the fight.
Mwamba said K410,000 has so been raised out of the K600,000 needed to stage a successful fight and called on companies to come on board.
He said Esther has changed her training strategy and was confident there will be no more postponements because everything had been put in place to ensure that the fight is held.
“We have now changed our type of training to the tough and skilled Cuban type which will see Esther win this fight. On May 22, you will see a ‘Power’ punch from Esther,” he said.
Mwamba said his stable has already paid all international and local sanction fees to ensure that the fight takes place.