Zarika versus Mercado: Nairobi Fight Night Is Finally Here

8th September 2018

Kenyan champion puts her WBC women super bantamweight title on the line against Mexican budding talent

Challenger Yamileth Mercado (right) and champion Fatuma Zarika face-off during the weigh in of their WBC women Super Bantamweight title showdown in Nairobi on Friday, August 7, 2018. PHOTO/SPN
Challenger Yamileth Mercado (right) and champion Fatuma Zarika face-off during the weigh in of their WBC women Super Bantamweight title showdown in Nairobi on Friday, August 7, 2018. PHOTO/SPN
SUMMARY
  • Between 7:50pm and 8pm, there will be a brief introduction of the local sanctioning body-Kenya Professional Boxing Commission and short speeches
  • SportPesa CEO, Captain Ronald Karauri, the Mexican Ambassador to Kenya Erasmo Martinez, KPBC Chairman, Alila and Promoter Mutua will give brief addresses
  • US based Kenyan professional, Rayton Okwiri who abandoned the amateur ranks after boxing for Kenya at the Rio 2016 Olympics would have been the top bill of a fight card.
  • Zarika and her challenger will then take to the ring from 10:50pm to 11:20pm for their 10-round showdown to crown the day.

NAIROBI, Kenya- The Nairobi Fight Night is finally here with us with the palpable excitement in the air with home girl Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika putting her World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Bantamweight title on the line later Saturday.

Mexican rising sensation, Yamileth ‘Yeimi’ Marcado will be in the opposite corner and having arrived in the country in the early hours of Tuesday, has gone on to win a horde of admirers as she went up and about in the city she is hoping to cause a massive heartache.

According to the programme, one of the most-anticipated boxing extravaganzas in the country’s history will start at 6:00pm local time (+3GMT) when gates open at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre Comesa Grounds in Nairobi.

A 35 minute entertainment marathon by award-winning Kenyan dancehall heartthrob Kevin ‘Love Child’ Wyre and DJ Tonye will whip up the crowd and get them in the mood for the ensuing action.

Between 7:50pm and 8pm, there will be a brief introduction of the local sanctioning body-Kenya Professional Boxing Commission and short speeches by its chairman; Hillary Alila and Nairobi Fight Night Promoter; Thomas Mutua.

First undercard

That will pave way for the first undercard, an all-Kenyan affair where Fred Nyakesa and George Onyango will trade punches in a scheduled six-round contest.

Another six-rounder, featuring Charity Mukami and Florence Muthoni, with the rounds shortened to two minutes each, will then take centre stage at the immaculately set-up dome between 8:35pm to 8:55pm.

On any other day, US based Kenyan professional, Rayton Okwiri who abandoned the amateur ranks after boxing for Kenya at the Rio 2016 Olympics would have been the top bill of a fight card.

However, his eight round welterweight men’s contest will play the role of the fitting curtain raiser for the WBC title fight in an eight-round contest against Patrick Amoti as he showcases his talent for the first time since turning pro.

There will be a one hour, 40 minute break as Zarika and Mercado go through their final pre-fight routine. 

SportPesa CEO, Captain Ronald Karauri, the Mexican Ambassador to Kenya Erasmo Martinez, KPBC Chairman, Alila and Promoter Mutua will give brief addresses before a special message from British world champion, Tony Bellew is broadcast to the fans.

Zarika and her challenger will then take to the ring from 10:50pm to 11:20pm for their 10-round showdown to crown the day.