By GWEN CHIPASULA and GODFREY DUBE –
CATHERINE Phiri is tomorrow expected to leave for the US to set up camp ahead of her World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight gold title fight against champion Yazmine Rivas.
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) manager Christopher Malunga said preparations were progressing well and that Catherine was ready for the fight slated for January 30 in Mexico.
Malunga said in an interview that Catherine would camp in Santiago,
which was 33 kilometres away from Mexico where the fight is scheduled to take place.
He said the stable has already been issued with both the air tickets and visas.
“Catherine will camp in Santiago  which is 33 kilometres away from Mexico where the fight will be held. We shall later connect to Mexico after completing training in America as the conditions are similar to Mexico,” he said.
Catherine, who has been in camp for six months, said she cannot wait to fight Rivas as she was more than ready and had been looking forward to this fight since it was announced.
“I know it won’t be easy because I know I will be facing a very tough opponent but I am more than ready to meet her because I have prepared so hard for this and finally we are almost there,” she said.
Catherine also said she has gotten some advice from Tanzanian boxer, Francis Cheka who has been training with her for a week now.
Trainer Mike ‘Weaver’ Zulu said Catherine is physically, mentally and physiologically ready for the fight.