Zarika itching to fight Canadian Spence

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Professional boxing in Kenya is set for an exciting period following the return of  Osaga Promotion to the scene.

Osaga Promotion whose license was reinstated by the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) a fortnight ago, has already secured high profile international title fights for local boxers to be  staged in Nairobi on November 30.

Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) super bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika will be among the pugilists in action.

Zarika will fight Canadian Natasha Spence for the vacant Women’s International Boxing Association (Wiba) featherweight title.

Spence, 28, lost the Wiba super featherweight title to Ronica Jeffrey of USA in Delaware in April this year. Ironically, this was the same title that Zarika, 28, lost to Australian Diana Prazak in Victoria, Australia, in April last year.

Spence, who began her boxing acreer in 2010, has had nine fights, winning six, losing two and drawing once. 

“I’m currently training at Ruarai Gym in Nairobi. It will be a great fight for me after staying for two years without any new title,” Zarika told FeverPitch.

Zarika also lost the Global Boxing Council super bantamweight title to Elina Tissen of Germany in July 2011.

Charity Mukami, who is yet to find uccess on the international stage, will take on Tyrisha Douglas of the US in the light middleweight duel. Mukami has won five of her nine fights including one on KO, besides three losses and a draw.

Looking for an opponent

Everlyn Odera will face Rachael Clark of the US in the light welterweight duel, while Sarah Achieng’ will take on Ghana’s Helen Joseph.

Osaga Promotion Director Caleb Kuya told FeverPitch that he is looking for an opponent for Samson Onyango in the welterweight category. Kuya said that the matches will take place at a Nairobi hotel. “Foreign boxers will jet into the country on November 25  ahead of the fights to be supervised by Wiba President Ryan Wright. I urge sponsors, especially to come on board and support Osaga Promotion’s quest to promote the sport,” said Kuya.

Meanwhile, Osaga Promotion was among the sponsors for the inaugural Harold Obunga Memorial Boxing Cup at Kaloleni grounds in Nairobi at the weekend.

KPBC chairman George Athman said the association has agreed to work with Osaga which has shown great interest in uplifting boxing in the country.