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Phiri WIns by TKO over Hernandez
by Edward Sande
October 8, 2008 |
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(OCT 8) Zambian female boxer Esther
Phiri has won the Global Boxing Union lightweight crown after
defeating American opponent Hondi Hernandez in a contest in Lusaka
on Saturday.
Phiri, 21, dedicated her crown to the late Zambian President, Levy
Mwanawasa, in recognition of his contribution to the revamping of
the sport.
Referee John Shipanuka stopped the fight after the 23-year-old
Hernandez got a bloodied face.
This is the fourth world championship belt that Phiri has won in the
last three years.
She previously won the Women International Boxing Federation
super-featherweight inter-continental title; GBU super-featherweight
inter-continental title and the WIBF super-featherweight world belt.
Commentary:
Saturday night's GBU lightweight title fight 5th round TKO win over
her raw American opponent Hondi Hernandez in a one-sided encounter
has left Esther a bit stale in the entertainment department.
Hernandez gave little to show for the thousand mile journey from
Arizona to Lusaka and it is good Esther herself openly admitted her
opponent was poor.
Esther learned nothing from this fight apart from getting another
customary big day payout.
Furthermore, it was farcical to have even let Hernandez square-up
against Esther as a GBU lightweight title contender in what ranked
as Esther¢s most uninspiring duel to date.
The fight at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka made a routine sparring
session in the gym look more competitive.
The pounding Hernandez received from Esther also showed the America
is still out of her depth in four straight defeats against some
experienced hands following her initial four wins over fellow
upstarts who barely had 2 competitive fights under their belts.
Anthony Mwamba and Esther's principle paymasters must let their
boxer move on to Europe or the Americas not only for the fame and
fortune but to grow and regain some respect back home before a
serious dose of false invincibility creeps in.
.
While Esther is expected to leave next week on a half-year training
camp in Germany courtesy of the GBU, the move should be long-term if
she is to become a finer boxer.
Sadly, the obvious fear of losing on foreign soil and Esther¢s
commercial obligations at home will make it hard for her to make a
professional decision to permanently relocate abroad and find her
way into the great unknown.
The late Lottie Mwale outgrew Woodlands and Zambia after a series of
well documented victories at iconic venues in Europe that culminated
when he took the plunged in America against Saad Mohamed in 1980
against whom he suffered a 4th round lights-out-knockout.
To fight in America is every boxers biggest dream and equivalent to
making a religious pilgrimage to a revered holy shrine.
If Esther doesn't crave for a piece of America in the coming year
then we will be forced to seriously question how ambitious she
really is to stay in the square circle.
FULL RESULTS OF CARD
1.Esther Phiri Knocked her American opponent in the 5th round to win
the Vacant Lightweight G.B.U Title.
2.Kennedy Kanyanta also knocked the American opponent Khov Moug to
defend the Bantam weight G.B.U Title.
3.John Chibuta Lost the G.B.U Middleweight Title to the American
opponent Kompa Koroma via Disqualification through head butt.
3.Yvonne Chipapa won Benendette Kaloki of Kenya in the 4 round
unanimous decision
4 Godwin Mutampuka kocked Zimabwen Wellington Phiri in the 3rd
round.
5.Nelson Banda was knocked out by the Zimbabwean opponent Takudzwa
Kuchocha in the 2nd round.
6.Emmanuel simbeye out pointed Simba Watunduru of Tanzania over
8rounds.
7.lnocent Kalimashi out pointed Evans bowa over 6rds.
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