Against All Odds: The Fatuma Zarika Story-Part 4
2nd September 2018
Crooked promoters stalled the progress of the aspiring female boxer but her will kept her soldering
- In six days, the hopes of a nation will rest on her hands when she takes on Yelmith Mercado in the second defence of her World Boxing Council women’s Super Bantamweight title
- Her first pro fight was against former national champion, Damaris Muthoni with Zarika losing after four rounds
- The tireless efforts in training and determination she continuously displayed paid off as she saw off her opponent
- A profound feeling of satisfaction that she had never felt before came soon after when she registered her first ever knockout win in the ring
NAIROBI, Kenya- Humble beginnings and early motherhood steeled Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika decided to take up the risky sport of boxing to literary punch her way out of poverty.
In six days, the hopes of a nation will rest on her hands when she takes on Yelmith Mercado in the second defence of her World Boxing Council women’s Super Bantamweight title.
SportPesa News sat with Zarika and in the fourth part of the series detailing her rise to the top, the celebrated Kenyan boxing queen outlines her journey to the top.
To first three parts of the story can be found here, here and here.
THE JOURNEY
Her first pro fight was against former national champion, Damaris Muthoni with Zarika losing after four rounds.
The bout earned her KSh700, a remarkable improvement from the KSh50 she made from her maiden amateur fight. It was an indication that fortunes could take a turn for the better.
After two months, another fight came her way and she was promised KSh 4,000 if she won the duel.
The tireless efforts in training and determination she continuously displayed paid off as she saw off her opponent.
The euphoric radiance that came after the victory was short-lived as the fight promoters once again bailed out on her but undeterred, Zarika once again picked herself up and continued to train in the hope of a brighter future.
By this time, she had started training under a new manager in the Pumwani area of Nairobi.
Keeping in mind that she still had not secured a steady income, she still had to walk.
"Waking up every day knowing I had to walk to the gym to seek a brighter future for my family motivated me to want to wake up the following day to do it again.
"I had a strong sense of belief that it would all pay off one day," Zarika stated.
Her typical day would start at 6am. A 30-minute run would get her day started before she heads back to the house to prepare her kids for school before embarking on the hour-long walk to the gym.
This routine continued until she got invited for yet another professional fight in Mumias.
Having travelled so far to participate in the fight, the discouraging end result was one that was becoming way too familiar. The promoters failed her yet again by not paying her.
"I was very disappointed after I trained so hard for the fight and did my best to win but I was not paid in the end," Zarika lamented.
A profound feeling of satisfaction that she had never felt before came soon after when she registered her first ever knockout win in the ring. Agnes Adonga was the unlucky victim of the 'Iron Fist'.