Support boxing, hurting Zarika tells govt

Former WBC Super Bantamweight title champion Fatuma Zarika has challenged the government to treat boxing with the dignity it deserves to help resurrect the sport from its sorry state.

Fondly known as the ‘Iron Fist’, Zarika who has prowled the ring for the last two decades regrets that boxers are not accorded the support required to motivate them.

“If our government was giving support to boxers to motivate them then I can assure you that we would have been very far.

These boxers are for sure so industrious but we need to see the fruits of our hard work. The government should be able to at least provide essentials needed in competitive matches, as a sign that it backs the boxer carrying the national flag,” Zarika said.

She has also rued the hardship she has endured in the sport vowing not to advise her kids to venture into boxing.

“I cannot recommend that my child venture into boxing when I think of how much I have suffered struggling to put food on the table for them,  and paying rent. I have been in active boxing for around 17 years but I can categorically state that there is absolutely nothing to show for it,” she lamented.

Zarika who is expected to feature in one of the friendly fights in Tanzania next month, her first since she lost the WBC title to Mexican Yamileth Mercado in a re-match in November last year in Mexico, has also vowed to return to Dubai to continue training other female boxers.

As part of the measures to fend for herself, the pugilist has also ventured into selling boxing wear such as gloves.

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government Fatuma Zarika Boxing

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