.Phiri

By MWANGALA LISELI –

ESTHER Phiri says she will send Sandra Almeida into retirement with her new ‘Zesco’ punch on Friday when the two jostle for the World International Boxing Association (WIBA) and World International Boxing Federation (WIBF) welterweight unification title.
The Zambian boxing heroine said she will use her newly acquired killer punch to ensure she clobbers Almeida to win the unification title fight set for Government Complex in Lusaka.
“Almeida cannot knock me out in the fourth or fifth round…that is not possible when the ‘Killer B’ is in the ring. Sandra must be ready to face the consequences of wanting to fight me because I am ready to send her into retirement with my new punch.
I don’t believe in the lucky punch or a knock out because it is not easy to take me down,” she said.
Esther said this during a media briefing at the Best Western Plus Lusaka Grand Hotel yesterday. But a confident Almeida stuck to her promise of knocking down Esther either in the fourth or fifth round.
She said she was not intimidated by the number of belts Esther had won but was more focused on playing with her mind to win the fight.
“Esther, you are always in my mind and I want to make this happen. I mean business and I will look for trouble if I have to get the right punch,” she said as Esther dared her.
Almeida commended Exodus International Boxing Promotions (EIBP) for the hospitality shown to her on her arrival.
Meanwhile, EIBP manager-cum-trainer Anthony Mwamba said Esther’s comeback fight had saved the stable from collapsing.
Mwamba said the stable had lost a lot of boxers when Esther retired and was happy that the boxer was fighting again.
“I am sure Esther will do us proud, we have been waiting for this for a long time and fans must come and see how she will destroy Sandra using the Cuban style of fighting-that of a man.”