BY the time you read this piece, Zambia’s icon former multi-division titlist Esther Phiri could be unified Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) and Women International Boxing Federation (WIBF) welterweight champion otherwise South Africa’s Sandra Almeida who has promised an early night could have her hand raised by the referee.
Both Sandra and her coach Kenneth O’Connor were bubbling with confidence when they arrived in Lusaka this past week and it might be wise to take their warning of a knock out within four or five rounds seriously.
O’Connor said: “Obviously, we are not here to play, but to fight. We are not here for a haircut…Zambians are good people but they are also warriors. But we are also warriors and we will do the business we are here for.”
Sandra 11-6 (KO 4) -4-1 chipped in “…we don’t play around when we are in the ring. I am going to dominate until around the fourth or fifth round.” This kind of talk is hardly surprising in a game where wits and mind games sometimes win fights before the first punch is thrown. Sandra won her last two fights by knock out.
For her part, Esther 18-14 (KO 5) -1-2 sounded supremely confident of her experience and skills and promised end Sandra’s career. And so, purely on hype, you could say the fight appears even.
But will it pan out that way in reality? I have not seen Sandra in action, but I think she will be tough in the earlier rounds. During the pre-fight hype for what was dubbed ‘The fight of the century,”between undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach was very vocal about his strategy to beat the American.
Among others, he said they would aim to throw punches in bunches and win every round on points. Roach even suggested there was no way Floyd could beat Pacquiao on points, except by KO. What happened? Floyd outclassed his opponent by fighting a smart fight, like he always does.
I use this parallel because without underrating Sandra, Esther has been in with some very tough pressure fighters like Belinda Laquente,DudaYankovich and her last opponent EverlineOdero who pushed Esther to her limits, but the Zambian found a way to win the fight. I believe that yes, Sandra will try to take the fight to Esther and do the things she has promised, but listen, talking is the easier part, not the fighting one who has a clear strategy. If Esther will be patient and focused on her potentially swarming opponent, check how she comes in, how she throws her punches, I’m sure her coach Anthony Mwamba has given her the script to follow. Which reminds me about the importance of making adjustments in a fight when the going gets rough.
This past week, there was a great fight, a World Boxing Council cruiserweight eliminator between South Africa’s Thabiso Mchunu and Congo Democratic Republic’s Ilunga Makabu Jr who fights out of South Africa. Makabu, who had difficulties with Mchunu’s southpaw right jab in the first stanza, turned the tables from round six and went on to knock out his opponent in the 11th round.
I noticed that Mchunu appeared to have run out of gas  as the fight progressed and Makabusaw this weakness and he capitalized, peppering Mchunu witha variety of punches-jabs, hooks to the body and the uppercuts which eventually did the damage. It was pleasing to see Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board chairperson Nelson Sapi who, along with his board secretary John Shipanuka, had been picked by the WBC as match officials for the bout.
So, what I’m I saying? Esther should read every move Sandra will make and make her pay for any mistakes. If, for instance, Sandra likes brawling, a smart fighter will know when to brawl and when to fight on the outside while moving laterally.
It’s a mistake to be forced to fight your opponent’s fight, but always beneficial to neutralizethe opponent’s strengths by using one’s head. I’m sure Esther will use her IQ to hand Sandra a haircut and a retirement package in tow.It surely promises to be a competitive contest.
Comments: mwale.simon@yahoo.co.uk 0966755574/0953744074