Zarika Outclasses Mercado To Retain WBC Crown In Epic Fight

NAIROBI, Kenya- For Fatuma Zarika, the status quo as the World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Bantamweight champion remains. For Mexican challenger, Yamelith Mercado, she lives to fight another day. Everything else happened in between.

In the signature act of the boxing festival dubbed Nairobi Fight Night saw an accomplished display of tactical fighting by Zarika who outclassed her challenger to record a split decision 2-1 victory and retain her coveted belt.

After 10 enthralling rounds of an epic women’s boxing fight, referee Simon Mukabi of South Africa lifted the arms of Zarika, 34, aloft after she won the contest 94-96, 97-93, 99-91 on split decision to cue delirium at a jam-packed Comesa Grounds of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi. 

"I thank all my fans who came here tonight. I'm nothing without you, I won because of you. When the fight started, I first wanted to gauge how she would fight and she was good at evading my punches.

"I'm grateful to SportPesa for holding my hand and I have never seen such a large crowd before in my career, thank you," Zarika said to rancorous acclaim. 

Her accomplished victory in front of a record crowd for boxing in the country extended her record to 30 wins, 12 draws and two losses.

Above all, it completed a hat-trick of sporting success for Kenya on 'Super Saturday' that saw Harambee Stars beat Ghana 1-0 and three local athletes lead Team Africa at the IAAF Continental Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Stars players, among them the flavour of the day, striker Michael Olunga, were in the building to join in the festivities that ensued after a victorious night for Zarika and her nation.

The evening began with a sense of high optimism as the immaculate dome set up at KICC started filling up with eager fans keen on a boxing spectacle.

With some rushing from the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani where they had earlier witnessed national football team, Stars pull off a stunning victory over the fancied Black Stars of Ghana, excitement was high as they came to will their home girl to victory.

Amid tight security, enthusiasts of all colour, age and creed patiently streamed in, some in fancy dress and others waving Kenyan and Mexican flags in good spirit, signalling another memorable event in the country’s sporting history was in the offing.

The 2000 allocated tickets ran out with Cabinet Secretary for Sports and Heritage, Rashid Echesa, Nairobi Senator, Johnston Sakaja and Member of Parliament, Isaac Mwaura representing the political class alongside the smattering of VIPs who thronged the venue.

Mexico Ambassador to Kenya, Erasmo Martinez, was on hand to will on his compatriot who was seeking to defy history and leave Nairobi with a massive heartache.

Decorated legend

“I love Kenya but I will support my country tonight. May our fighter win,” the Mexican envoy said shortly before the main attraction started.

Retired decorated distance running legend, Tegla Loroupe who is a famous global spokesperson for peace, women right’s and education led the cast of famous sporting icons who made the Nairobi Fight Night.

“This is a great occasion and a celebration for sports and women boxing and I’m honoured to be here,” the former women’s world marathon record holder whose name was greeted with a lion’s roar quipped.

SportPesa CEO, Captain Ronald ‘Monski’ Karauri flanked by fellow bosses, Jakob Kristensen (Chief Operations Officer) and Kelvin Twissa (Chief Marketing Officer) fronted their dedicated team from the leading bookmakers that burned the midnight oil to make the landmark boxing festival to the venue.

“I want to thank everyone for coming, let’s support Zarika, we have done this for her. Let us respect and come out to support our own in sports and I hope Zarika will do us proud,” Karauri remarked.

Marina Milovanova, the Russian WBC observer for the title fight added; “I’m expected a good fight and thank you all fans who come to support the sport.”

The red or rather green carpet laid out at the dome proved to be a turnstile for some of the biggest names in local showbiz.

Chart-toppers, Kevin ‘Love Child’ Wyre, Murithi ‘DNA’ Kaggia, George ‘Muigai’ Madtraxx as well as famous Deejays Allan ‘Dj Stylez’ Muigai (a sibling of the former) and Chris Darlin’ of Dohty Family were to use pop music parlance, in the house among others.

Challenger Mercado was the first to check in for the title fight, coming in at around 6:50pm local time (+3GMT) before Zarika caused a stir when she made her entry to the venue some 25 minutes later.

Following a brief introduction from Afribox Promotions chief Thomas Mutua, it was time for the first undercard of the night, the all-Kenyan lightweight non-title fist fight between seasoned Fred Nyekesa, 38 of Kariobangi Boxing Club and George Onyango, 21 of the Pal Pal Boxing Gymnasium.

Atmosphere cranked 

To crank up the atmosphere, the boxers had elected to have the sizzling tunes of reggae artist, Chronixx whose Roots and Chalice and Here Comes Trouble had those in the dome supercharged.

The six-rounder saw Nyekesa (61.2kg) who fighting from the red corner had the crowd on his side from the off with his aggressive approach as he attempted to wear down his younger opponent by stuffing out his oxygen with body shots.

However, Otieno (61.23kg) who took some moments to slump in his blue corner in fervent prayer before taking to the ring, responded by landing where it mattered and the judges awarded him the fight 2-1 on split decision, a verdict that divided the crowd although it was justified.

Up next was another all Kenyan slugfest- a six-round women Super lightweight non-title punch up- between Florence Muthoni of Pal Pal and Charity Mukami in the red corner.

In truth, the contest did not fire up the supporters as some told the pugilists who were ultra defensive to ‘fight! Fight!’ as they sat with favourite drink in hand and it was no surprise when the judges delivered a draw.

After they exited the ring, Chris Darlin’ took to the decks and almost brought the giant tent down when he spun a medley of evergreen roots reggae hits to the rowdy reception from the audience, some who discarded inhibitions and got up to dance.

Some bangers that boomed from the sound system to acclaim include; Culture’s Peace, Love and Harmony and the Statement by Black Uhuru where the Mcee of the night tweaked the lyrics to hail Zarika.

Rasta Zarika 

“Zarika know don't trouble no one, shows respect to everyone, as she trod on through this land, true rasta woman know of conviction, full of love no corruption, show the world that we can,” the hype man crooned inviting another roll of cheer.

The cream of the undercard then took centre stage and what a show it turned out to be as Rio 2016 Olympian, Rayton Okwiri, who won it all as an amateur took to the ring to fight Ugandan Patrick Amoti and within two of the scheduled eight rounds, the latter had kissed the canvas thrice as the crowd applauded a classy knockout.

“I don’t see this fight lasting past four rounds,” the confident Okwiri had charged before the fight and he delivered within half the time he had predicted.

His performance incited the already electric crowd into euphoria, as they demanded for the showstopper to come quick.

Ring announcer, Maurice ‘Mdomo Baggy’ Ochieng’ stepped in to signal another round of entertainment with local dancehall heartthrob, Wyre, decked in a black and white ensemble, rocking the fans with a medley of his popular hits as he christened Zarika the ‘First Lady’.

Every time he threw the refrain, wapi nduru ya Zarika (scream for Zarika), he was greeted back with ear splitting squeals that must have given the home girl in the dressing room the strength she needed ahead of her latest challenge.

As she had promised, the reggae music fan stepped out to the ring to the iconic Bob Marley hit, Iron, Lion, Zion as the foundations of the dome were shaken to the core by her adoring republic as some stood or shouted themselves hoarse to welcome their boxing queen.

This is after Mercado walked down the ramp to what must be arguably a popular Mexican tune that had her small band of flag-waving supporters up and screaming their heads off only to be drowned by the eclectic din of the partisan home support.

With the speeches and pre-match rituals done and dusted, the moment they all came for had arrived with the bell to the opening round seeing Zarika and Mercado go for each other.

The punishing elevation of Nairobi did not seem to drag the boxers down with the Mexican sending Zarika scampering to the ropes in defence in the opening round before much to the elation of the Kenyans, the champion responded by landing two head blows that rocked the challenger.

Radio silence 

Midway through the scheduled 10 rounds, the ring announcer declared the running results with Judge A putting Mercado in front 37-39, cue almost radio silence, Judge B 39-37 and Judge C 39-37 to the Kenyan to stimulate loud cheers.

To her credit, Mercado gave as much as she got but the guile of the Nairobi low-income Mathare Estate bred fighter saw her land incisive blows.

By the eighth round, with her followers shouting Ua! Ua! Ua! (Kill! Kill! Kill) Zarika sensed she had done enough to overcommit to go for a spectacular ending as the young Mexican, who judging by the muted cheering at this point, had earned her respect, soldiered on.

Results were announced again in round nine of the contest and again it was aplit 2-1 verdict in favour of Zarika and the house almost literary, came caving in on all present, with the judges returning (74-78, 77-75, 79-73).

Standing at 1,795 metres above sea level, the high altitude of Nairobi left Mercado drained and as they came for the final set of the title bout, the home supporters could smell the victory as the young Mexican struggled to stand on her feet.

The final bell brought a brief moment of tension as the retinue of collating the results and delivering the verdict went on, as Mercado shed tears, knowning all too well her valiant effort had fallen just short.

For the home supporters, the party started in earnest well into the early hours of Sunday morning to celebrate what was not only a victory for Zarika but for an entire nation. What a Saturday!