I was robbed, ‘sad’ Mercado says after Zarika defeat

Mexican boxer Yamileth Mercado who lost to Kenya’s Fatuma ‘Iron Fist’ Zarika in a World Boxing Council super-bantamweight title fight on Saturday has dismissed the decision of a three-bench judge to award the fight to the latter on split decision as “unjust”.

In a series of tweets, Mercado, 20, who engaged Zarika in a tough 10-round bout at the Kenyatta International Concention Centre on Saturday night coming close before losing 2-1 said that while she was “enchanted and grateful” to the people of Kenya, she was dissatisfied by the judges calls.

Zarika prevailed 94-96,97-93,99-91, with judges Francis Chirwa from Zambia and Bernard Kaloki making the call on her favour while Ghanaian Eddie Papoe threw his dice with the agile Mexican who gave a good account of herself before a partisan crowd.

I say goodbye to Nairobi, I am dissatisfied with the decision of the judges, but happy with the work I do, grateful to the beautiful people of Kenya who acknowledged the triumph and infinitely grateful and happy with my people from Mexico, thanks for so much support! I love them pic.twitter.com/MaNlSlXk9U

— Yamileth Mercado (@YeimiMercado16) September 10, 2018

But when the bouts were over, it was clear that Mercado and her coaches were unhappy with the ruling as she failed to honour the final rites, as a happy Zarika was bestowed with the crown.

The fight, the biggest in recent times pitting female boxers on Kenyan soil divided opinion even on social media with some Kenyans sharing the view that the Mexican who had undergone high-altitude training in the run- up to the bout was “robbed”.

Thank you Kenya, I'm going sad for that unjust decision of the judges, but very grateful and enchanted by its people, it was a beautiful stay❤ pic.twitter.com/LiRdLcpCi9

— Yamileth Mercado (@YeimiMercado16) September 9, 2018

Zarika, 33, has been involved in 45 professional fights winning 31, losing 12 and drawing two compared to the 20-year- old Mercado who has been involved in 14 fights of which 12 have been wins and the rest defeats.