Catherine Phiri Becomes New WBC Bantamweight Champion

From WBC:

PHIRI WINS WBC TITLE AHEAD ON TWO CARDS

Zambia’s Catherine Phiri is the new WBC female bantamweight champion after a clash of heads prematurely ended the fight with now ex champ Yazmin “Rusita” Rivas.

After four rounds the rangy long armed Zambian was ahead on two of the three cards. Frequent fierce exchanges with both scoring to the head. Catherine’s frequency was marginally higher, yet she was the one who was swollen around the eyes.

Realizing she was behind, Rusita upped the pace and urgency. It wasn’t enough. The clash of heads right at the end of the sixth, left Rusita temporarily unsteady, with a rapidly and badly swelling right eye.

Catherine was deducted a point, but won. The scores of the technical decision, for Catherine Phiri were: 59-55 and 58-56 for her and 55-55.