Kenya’s female boxing sensation Fatuma Zarika has vowed to turn her opponent’s face into a cherry pie on her way to a successful World Boxing Federation (WBF) super featherweight title defense.
Zarika, 38, fired a warning shot at her Tanzanian nemesis Fatuma Omari, telling her to prepare for the most vicious battle of her lifetime in the 10-round duel.
The two East African pugilists will trade blows at a high-octane fight night scheduled for Friday at the Broadwalk Mall along Ojijo Road in Parklands.
And with only a day left before the scintillating slug-off, Zarika has vowed to announce her return to the ring in a big way after two years of inactivity on the big stage.
“I’m ready to confirm my status as the mother of all boxers in Africa. Omari should prepare for one of the most vicious battles of her boxing life,” Zarika asserted in a pre-bout interview on Wednesday.
The two-time WBC champion, who hones her skills at the Vision Plaza Gym, along Mombasa Road, under coach Marvin Obuya vowed to make a resounding statement on Friday, urging her fans to turn out in large numbers.
“I urge my supporters to turn out in large numbers and I promise not to let them down,” Zarika remarked.
“I’ve been out of action for a very long time and I’m eager to see the kind of performance I can pull off now. This bout will allow me to gauge my form,” Zarika said.
The diminutive hard puncher — a twin sister to renowned Kenyan footballer Musa Mohammed currently plying trade for top flight side Police FC — pledged a thrilling night full of fireworks. “I’m returning to action a different person. This is a better version of the Zarika you once knew,” Zarika stated.
“I’d like to tell my opponent that boxing is contested in the ring and she should, therefore, desist from unnecessary chest-thumping,” she added. On her part, Omari vowed to turn the tide against her more fancied and highly-rated Kenyan opponent.
“My tiny body frame should not mislead you to think that you will run over me. I’m here to get the job done and dusted. I’ll leave your face damaged on my way back to Tanzania,” Omari said. However, in response, Zarika asked Omari to translate her bluff into action.
Zarika will be defending the title she tucked away in 2020 after pulverizing Zimbabwean Patience Mascara on unanimous points decision (98-92,97-93, 98-91) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
World Alliance of Boxing Association governor of the Commonwealth and Indo-Oceania region Reuben Ndolo said his administration will make sure that East Africa is part and parcel of the decision-making organ.
“We are keen not to repeat the same mistakes we made when we formed the World Boxing Commission and allowed people to grab it from our grip in Tunisia,” Ndolo said.
Ndolo, who also doubles as the chairman of Kenya Professional Boxing Association, said that Kenya will collaborate closely with other East African countries to enhance the game in the region. Ndolo further asked the government to consider rewarding Zarika for her unmatched accomplishments.
