By Gwen Chipasula –
WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Suleiman has showered praise on Catherine Phiri for ‘having a heart of lion’ by accepting the challenge for the title outside Zambia.
Suleiman said he was impressed by Catherine determination to earn the mandatory challenger status to face current champion Yazmin Rivas for the WBC bantamweight gold title on December 5 in Mexico.
He also assured Catherine and her stable of fair officiating ahead of the fight that would be held during WBC female convention slated for the city of Tijuana State Baja California, Mexico.
Suleiman told Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) manager Chris Malunga in China where he is attending the 53rd WBC convention that he was happy with the African boxer’s contribution to the WBC.
“I am very proud of our mandatory challenger, she accepted to fight outside the country; she has a heart of a lion. As WBC, we shall ensure that we have neutral officials and Catherine must go to Mexico feeling relaxed” he said.
The WBC in June ordered a rematch between Catherine and Christina Machona after noticing suspicious scoring by the judges during the May 2 bantamweight gold title fight.
Catherine lost the fight on a majority points’ decision after two of the judges gave the Irish boxer a wide win while one judge gave a draw, a decision that was highly challenged considering that the bout was tight.
