Fatuma Zarika Edges Out Yamileth Mercado to Retain her WBC Super Bantamweight Belt

From WBC:

Fatuma Zarika retains WBC crown by split decision

World Boxing Council super bantamweight female champion, Kenyan Fatuma Zarika, defeated Mexico`s Yamileth Mercado, who travelled all the way to Nairobi`s Kenyatta International Convention Center.

It was Zarika`s second defence. One Judge scored the fight 96-94 for Mercado. The two other Judges scored it 97-93 and 99-91 for Zarika.

It`s been a long hard, but rewarding road for Fatuma, who won the crown in October 2016 by defeating Jamaica’s Alicia Ashley, becoming the first boxer from Kenya, to win the WBC world belt.

The champion, a single mother of two daughters, interrupted her studies at age 16 to help her mother in the housework. In that moment she realized that she had to do something to change his life.

Beginning boxing training at the age of 19 in an improvised gym, she worked tirelessly towards becoming a professional in 2000.

“Winning the WBC belt changed my life, I was at the lowest point in my mind and winning was the way God asked me not to surrender,” said Fatuma.

Following her latest close and hard fought victory Fatuma declared:

“I am grateful to all my fans. Thank you for coming to support me. It it were not for you, I would not have achieved all of this. I`ll always be grateful!”