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Boxing legend Fatuma Zarika plans European comeback before retirement
Fatuma Zarika works out at Broad Walk mall with her coach Marvin Obuya on October 25, 2023.
History-making former World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika has indicated she wants to hang her gloves while still at the top.
The 41-year-old mother of two, who stretched her record to 52 fights with a knock-out victory against Tanzania’s Flora Machela on Friday night in Nairobi, said that her dream is to win the world title once more before calling it quits.
Zarika thumped Machela, 37, with a couple of knockdowns over the rounds before going for the kill with two minutes inside the eighth and final round of their non-title bout at the Ultra Fight Series (UFS) Boxing Promotion at the Edge Hotel, Nairobi.
Zarika wants to fall back to the plan that saw her defend her WBC title several times pitching camp in Europe benefitting from training at some of the world’s best equipped gymnasiums.
Boxer Fatuma Zarika after training.
Made history
Zarika made history by becoming the first African woman to win a WBC title super bantamweight, deposing title holder Jamaican Alicia Ashley in a split decision on October 1, 2016 in Flint, Michigan, United States of America.
She said there is a difference between the Zarika, who beat Ashley in a split decision 10 years ago and the Zarika of now.
“I will need to be in tip-top shape to challenge for the world title. I may not be in the best shape like when I won the world title but it’s something that I can regain with good training,” said Zarika.
“The beauty of it is that my body appreciates pretty fast with good training. A set up like a training camp I had in Europe where I had good facilities helps someone stay focused,” she added.
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