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=
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|ko-wins=10
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|dec-wins=6
|dec-losses=5
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}}
| 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; |
| 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}}