Zarika pushes back her retirement by two more years
World Boxing Council (WBC) women’s Super-Bantamweight champion Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika has announced that she will retire in 2020.
Zarika, who defended her title for the second time against 20-year-old Mexican Yamileth Mercado on Saturday in Nairobi, said her career, which has spanned more than 15 years, only has two more years left.
Thereafter, she revealed, she plans to switch to coaching as well as being a promoter.
“I can’t box forever. My idea is to be a coach after I hang my gloves and also become a promoter to fight for the rights of boxers,” she said.
Zarika successfully defended her title with a split points decision victory. The three ring side judges scored the bout 94-96, 97-93 and 99-91 in Zarika’s favour.
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The mother of two, who said she will now engage in several non-title bouts to stay in shape, captured the belt in December 2016 with victory over Jamaican Ashley Alicia.
A year later, she held on to her crown winning with a unanimous decision in a bloody bout against Zambia’s Catherine Phiri.
Moments after capturing the world title Zarika said she would retire in 2017.
Then in December 2017, she hinted that she would retire after Saturday’s bout against Mercado.
“I have one one more year in the ring. I will defend this title three or four times next year (2018) then quit,” Zarika was quoted back then.