. Phiri

By SANDRA MWILA –
ZAMBIAN female boxing sensation Catherine Phiri says the continued postponement of her World Boxing Council (WBC) gold bantamweight fight against Yazim Rivas has disturbed her plans.
Catherine, who is challenging WBC gold bantamweight champion Rivas in Mexico next year, said she hopes there will be no more deferments of the fight as it was disturbing her school schedule.
She said in an interview yesterday that she has been in camp for three months and gave up school to prepare for the mandatory fight that was initially set for November 28.
“The fight has been postponed for the fourth time now and its disturbing my plans, I had to take a break from school to be in camp for three months preparing for the WBC fight,” She said.
Catherine was named the mandatory challenger for the female gold bantamweight title against the Mexican champion after Christina McMahon was stripped of the interim title for refusing to defend the belt against the Zambian champion.
But that fight that was first set for November 28 has been postponed three times and now set for January 3 in Mexico.
Catherine said despite all the postponements she will continue working hard and remain focused on achieving her dream of becoming the first African woman to win the WBC gold title.
“I only hope the fight is on this time around but despite all that, I am ready for Yazim because as a boxer you have to be ready all the time,” she said.
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) manager Christopher Malunga said the stable has no choice but to adjust to the rescheduling because it’s a mandatory fight.
Malunga said in a separate interview that the fight has been postponed because of the WBC female convention that has been moved forward with organisers wanting the fight to be the main attraction.