Catherine Phiri

{{Short description|Zambian boxer}}

{{use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}

{{Infobox boxer

| image = Presentación Función de Box Zócalo IMG 3547 (33632111741) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Phiri in 2017

| name = Catherine Phiri

| real_name =

| nickname =

| weight = {{plainlist|

}}

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Lusaka, Zambia

| stance =

| total = 21

| wins = 16

| KO = 10

| losses = 5

| draws =

| no_contests =

}}

Catherine Phiri is a Zambian professional boxer. She held the WBC female bantamweight title from 2016 to 2017 and challenged twice for the WBC female super-bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019.

Boxing career

Phiri debuted on 25 July 2011 when she defeated Zambian boxer Esther Chalwe at the National Sports Development Centre in Lusaka.[http://boxrec.com/boxer/571871 Catherine Phiri on Boxrec.com] She won the WBC female bantamweight title by defeating reigning champion Yazmín Rivas on 30 January 2016 in Mexico.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/results-from-tijuana-25-323006 |title=Phiri dethrones Rivas, Alvarez stops Winchester |access-date=2016-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201092642/http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/results-from-tijuana-25-323006 |archive-date=2016-02-01 |url-status=dead }} She became the first Zambian to win a WBC title.{{Cite web |url=http://www.znbc.co.zm/?p=30380 |title=Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2016-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005062708/http://www.znbc.co.zm/?p=30380 |archive-date=2016-10-05 |url-status=dead }}

Her 13th fight was on 27 August 2016 at Lusaka's Government Complex where she retained her WBC title with a first-round stoppage victory against Gabisile Tshabalala.[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/08/28/catherine-phiris-camp-slams-tshabalala/ Catherine Phiri’s camp slams’ Tshabalala] LusakaTimes, 28 August 2016 She lost the title in her next fight, suffering the second defeat of her career against Mariana Juárez on 1 April 2017, in Mexico City, Mexico.{{Cite news|url=https://zambiareports.com/2017/04/02/mexicos-barby-dethrones-catherine-phiri/|title=Mexico's Barby Dethrones Catherine Phiri {{!}} Zambia Reports|date=2017-04-02|work=Zambia Reports|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en-US|archive-date=10 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710181449/https://zambiareports.com/2017/04/02/mexicos-barby-dethrones-catherine-phiri/|url-status=dead}}

On 17 December 2016, she was honoured by the World Boxing Council for being the first boxer from Africa to win the WBC bantamweight title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynation.news/wbc-honours-catherine/|title=WBC honours Catherine – Daily Nation|website=www.dailynation.news|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227153735/https://www.dailynation.news/wbc-honours-catherine/|archive-date=27 February 2018|url-status=dead}} On 2 November 2017, she was defeated by Fatuma Zarika in a WBC super-bantamweight title fight, losing by unanimous decision with the judges' scorecards reading 97–92, 98–91 and 99–92. Zarika was the defending champion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/article/2001262013/zarika-retains-her-wbc-super-bantamweight-title-against-zambian-catherine-phiri|title=Zarika retains her WBC Super bantamweight title against Zambian Catherine Phiri|last=Ahenda|first=Ben|website=Standard Digital News|access-date=2018-02-27}}

A rematch between Phiri and Zarika took place on 3 March 2019 at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya with the WBC title again on the line. Zarika won by unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/784738/2352295|title=Fatuma Zarika vs Catherine Phiri|publisher=boxrec.com|access-date=2024-05-26}}

Phiri faced Zimbabwe's Kudakwashe Chiwandire for the vacant WBC female interim super-bantamweight title on 26 February 2022, at the Government Complex in Lusaka, Zambia, losing by split decision.{{Cite web|last=Manyepo|first=Tadious|date=26 April 2022|title=President rewards female boxer Chiwandire with US$15k|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/president-rewards-female-boxer-chiwandire-with-us15k/|access-date=26 May 2024|website=The Herald}}

Phiri was suspended from all boxing activities for two years in October 2022, after being found to have used a banned substance. She tested positive for the diuretic furosemide after her loss to Chiwandire in February. Phiri admitted her guilt and her ban was backdated to start from May 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/63163957|title=Catherine Phiri: Zambian boxer 'to be back' after two-year doping ban|date=6 October 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-05-27}} {{cite web|url=https://www.openzambia.com/sports/2022/10/7/zambian-boxing-champion-handed-two-year-doping-ban|title=Zambian Boxing Champion Handed Two-Year Doping Ban|date=7 October 2022 |publisher=openzambia.com|access-date=2024-05-27}} {{cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2022/10/06/catherine-phiri-fails-doping-test/|title=Catherine Phiri fails doping test|date=6 October 2022 |publisher=Lusaka Times|access-date=2024-05-27}} {{cite web|url=https://newscentral.africa/zambia-boxing-star-catherine-phiri-banned-after-failing-doping-test/|title=Zambia Boxing Star, Catherine Phiri Banned After Failing Doping Test|date=7 October 2022 |publisher=News Central TV|access-date=2024-05-27}}

Awards

Catherine Phiri was also given an academic scholarship from the Justina Mutale Foundations Scholarship Programme on 9 June 2016. She is expected to go and study Sports Management at the European School of Economics in Italy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/06/13/25-young-zambian-women-get-justina-mutale-scholarship-study-abroad/|title=Zambia : 25 young Zambian women get Justina Mutale scholarship to study abroad|date=2016-06-13|work=LusakaTimes.com|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en-GB}} President of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu honoured Catherine Phiri with the Zambia insignia of meritorious achievement award for her accomplishment on Africa Freedom Day, 25 May 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/president-lungu-honours-under-20-team-catherine-phiri/|title=President Lungu honours under-20 team, Catherine Phiri – Zambia Daily Mail|website=www.daily-mail.co.zm|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-27}}

Professional boxing record

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=

|nc=

|ko-wins=10

|ko-losses=

|dec-wins=6

|dec-losses=5

|dq-wins=

|dq-losses=

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round, time

!Date

!Location

!Notes

21

|{{no2}}Loss

|16–5

|align=left|Kudakwashe Chiwandire

|SD

|10

|26 Feb 2022

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|align=left|{{small|For vacant WBC female interim super-bantamweight title}}

20

|{{no2}}Loss

|16–4

|align=left|Fatuma Zarika

|UD

|10

|23 Mar 2019

|align=left|{{small|Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya}}

|align=left|{{small|For WBC female super-bantamweight title}}

19

|{{yes2}}Win

|16–3

|align=left|Asandiswa Nxokwana

|TKO

|2 (8), {{small|1:37}}

|13 Oct 2018

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|

18

|{{yes2}}Win

|15–3

|align=left|Halima Yazidu

|KO

|2 (8), {{small|0:42}}

|28 Apr 2018

|align=left|{{small|City Mall, Solwezi, Zambia}}

|

17

|{{yes2}}Win

|14–3

|align=left|Rukia Nasirite

|TKO

|2 (6), {{small|2:27}}

|30 Dec 2017

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|

16

|{{no2}}Loss

|13–3

|align=left|Fatuma Zarika

|UD

|10

|2 Dec 2017

|align=left|{{small|Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi, Kenya}}

|align=left|{{small|For WBC female super-bantamweight title}}

15

|{{yes2}}Win

|13–2

|align=left|Flora Machela

|KO

|1 (6), {{small|2:00}}

|2 Jul 2017

|align=left|{{small|Zmart Mall, Ndola, Zambia}}

|

14

|{{no2}}Loss

|12–2

|align=left|Mariana Juárez

|UD

|10

|1 Apr 2017

|align=left|{{small|Mexico City, Mexico}}

|align=left|{{small|Lost WBC female bantamweight title}}

13

|{{yes2}}Win

|12–1

|align=left|Gabisile Tshabalala

|TKO

|1 (10), {{small|1:00}}

|27 Aug 2016

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC female bantamweight title}}

12

|{{yes2}}Win

|11–1

|align=left|Yazmín Rivas

|{{abbr|TD|Technical decision}}

|6 (10), {{small|2:00}}

|30 Jan 2016

|align=left|{{small|Centro de Convenciones, Rosarito Beach, Mexico}}

|align=left|{{small|Won WBC female bantamweight title;
Majority TD after Rivas was cut from an accidental head clash}}

11

|{{no2}}Loss

|10–1

|align=left|Christina McMahon

|{{abbr|MD|Majority decision}}

|10

|2 May 2015

|align=left|{{small|Mulungushi Conference Centre, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|align=left|{{small|For WBC interim female bantamweight title}}

10

|{{yes2}}Win

|10–0

|align=left|Bukiwe Nonina

|TKO

|2 (10)

|22 Nov 2014

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC Silver female bantamweight title}}

9

|{{yes2}}Win

|9–0

|align=left|Joyce Chileshe

|PTS

|4

|3 May 2014

|align=left|{{small|Mongu Stadium, Mongu, Zambia}}

|

8

|{{yes2}}Win

|8–0

|align=left|Pia Mazelanik

|KO

|3 (10), {{small|1:00}}

|15 Mar 2014

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant WBC Silver female bantamweight title}}

7

|{{yes2}}Win

|7–0

|align=left|Hawa Daku

|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}

|8 (10)

|28 Sep 2013

|align=left|{{small|Mulungushi Conference Centre, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|align=left|{{small|Won vacant African female bantamweight title}}

6

|{{yes2}}Win

|6–0

|align=left|Leslie Domingo

|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}

|2 (10)

|23 Mar 2013

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|

5

|{{yes2}}Win

|5–0

|align=left|Nathalie Forget

|UD

|10

|20 Oct 2012

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|

4

|{{yes2}}Win

|4–0

|align=left|Hamisa Willy

|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}

|4 (6), {{small|2:00}}

|31 Mar 2012

|align=left|{{small|Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|

3

|{{yes2}}Win

|3–0

|align=left|Diana Makumbe

|UD

|4

|29 Oct 2011

|align=left|{{small|Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia}}

|

2

|{{yes2}}Win

|2–0

|align=left|Cicilia Pitiseni

|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}

|4

|3 Sep 2011

|align=left|{{small|Maramba Stadium, Livingstone, Zambia}}

|

1

|{{yes2}}Win

|1–0

|align=left|Esther Chalwe

|{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}}

|4

|28 May 2011

|align=left|{{small|National Sports Development Centre, Lusaka, Zambia}}

|

References

{{Reflist}}