After years of waiting, Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika has a chance to defend her World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Super Featherweight title.
Zarika defeated Patience Mastara of Zimbabwe on a unanimous points decision (98-92,97-93, 98-91) to lift the coveted title in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in November 2020.
The two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) World Super Bantam champion will defend the glittering belt in a ten-round duel against decorated Tanzanian pugilist Fatuma Omari in Nairobi on October 27.
The high-octane fight night, dubbed Betika Ultra Fight Series Boxing, will be held at the Broadwalk Mall along Ojijo Road in Parklands.
Also in the 11-bout card, promoted by Maurice Odera of Ultra Fight Series Boxing, will be the World Alliance Boxing Association (WABA) Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title fight pitting Albert Kimario against Grey Chimkwapulo of Malawi.
Zarika feels she’s done her homework well and is just waiting to make it happen on the fight night, even as her opponent threatens that it will not be a walk in the park.
“I am happy that, finally, I’ll be defending the title at home. I have used the almost three-year sabbatical from the ring to keep fit,” said Zarika, who is putting the final touches to her preparations at Vision Plaza Gym along Mombasa Road under coach Marvin Obuya.
“I have done lots of load work; running, lifting weights, and endless sparring. So now I’ll focus my energy on speed, footwork, and self-defence,” Zarika said.
Zarika insists she will not spare time to study Omari as this will put her under unnecessary pressure but she is promising her fans a show to remember.
“I urge my supporters to come early and in large numbers on the day, I will not let them down because this belt will go nowhere. I promise Omari will see ‘bad things’ in the ring,” warned Zarika.
Zarika is among the three Kenyan women to have ever won a WBF title, others being Conjestina ‘Hands of Stone’ Achieng and Sarah ‘Angel of War’ Achieng.
Zarika strongly believes defending the WBF belt will give her an opportunity to reclaim her WBC World Super Bantam title for the third time. Her sentiments have been supported by Odera who hinted that engaging Zarika is just the beginning of big things under his stable.
“Actually, our aim is to go for the WBC, so we want to give Zarika one more run because she’s currently the biggest name in Kenya’s boxing. We also want to anchor upcoming boxers like Kimario on her fame,” Odera said.
The promoter assured that the main fight on the card will live up to its billing because Zarika’s opponent Omari has impressive records on top of being an aggressive fighter and a puncher par excellence.
“Omari has been challenging Zarika over the years so we have finally decided to honour the request and pit the two against each other, it will be a fight to remember,” said Odera.
While acknowledging the significance of the sponsorship the fight received from gaming firm Betika, Odera said: “Zarika has been inactive for years, she’s been looking for a promoter who can help her defend the title, but the belt is very expensive, the sanctioning fees so many promoters shy away but we are glad that we got a sponsor who is already making this to happen.”
The fight tickets are available online at ticketsasa.com. General tickets go for Sh1000 in advance and Sh1500 at the gates while ringside VIP tickets go for Sh3500 in advance and Sh4500 at the gates.
Fatuma Zarika in numbers
Total Fights: 48
Wins: 33 (17KOs)
Losses: 13
Draws: 2
