Esther Phiri (born June 14, 1987) is a Former World Female Boxing Champion Zambian boxer. Esther was stripped of her title after her retirement. Esther is the first female Zambian boxer to get international recognition and accolades. She became world champion after defeating Belinda Laracuente.
Biography Phiri was still a teenager when, after the death of her father, she made a living selling fruit and vegetables. She became a mother at age 16. Boxing was a way for her to escape poverty and support her own child, and the children of her older sister, who had died. She was encouraged by Anthony Mwamba, a former boxer she met in 2003. Her first fight was in 2005. She won the GBU (Global Boxing Union) intercontinental belt for lightweights on June 30, 2007, at the expense of Radostina Valcheva and then retained it by beating Belinda Laracuente on 1 December 2007. The following year, she won the same belt but in the lower super-featherweight class.
Phiri became WIBA welterweight world champion after beating Duda Yankovich, May 29, 2010. Other important fights won by this boxer are those against Lely Luz Florez, in 2011, and Monalisa Sibanda, in 2012. She also invests in real estate.
Documentary film
The documentary film Between Rings: The Esther Phiri Story, released in 2014, was co-written and co-directed by her cousin Jessie Chisi. It tells Phiri's story, how she left her marriage to pursue a career in boxing, torn between her own goals and her family and societal expectations.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes19Draw14-1-3Sandra AlmeidaTD3 (10)2015-05-22 Government Complex, Lusakainterim Women's International Boxing Association World Welterweight Title18Win14-1-2Everline OderoPTS8 (10)2014-12-20 Chez-Ntemba, Lusaka17Win13-1-2Monalisa SibandaKO7 (10)2012-02-17 Mulungushi Conference Centre, LusakaInternational Boxing Organization World Female Super Lightweight Title Women's International Boxing Association World Super Lightweight Title16Win12-1-2Lely Luz FlorezUD10 (10)2011-01-29 Mulungushi Conference Centre, Lusakavacant International Boxing Organization World Female Super Lightweight Title Women's International Boxing Association World Super Lightweight Title15Win11-1-2 Duda YankovichUD10 (10)May 29, 2010vacant Women's International Boxing Association World super lightweight title14Draw11-1-2Terri BlairSD10 (10)2009-11-28 Mulungushi Conference Centre, Lusaka vacant Women's International Boxing Association World Super Lightweight Title13Win10-1-1Viparat LasuwanTKO4 (10)2009-04-26 Hood Restaurant, Nairobi12Win9-1-1Hondi HernandezTKO5 (10)2008-10-04 Woodlands Stadium, LusakaGlobal Boxing Union Female World Super Featherweight Title11Win8-1-1Elina TissenUD10 (10)2008-04-26 vacant Global Boxing Union Female World Super Featherweight Title10Win7-1-1Belinda LaracuenteUD8 (8)Dec 1, 2007 9Win6-1-1Radostina ValchevaRTD 2 (10)2007-06-30 8Win5-1-1Monika PetrovaUD8 (8)2007-03-18 Mulungushi Conference Centre, Lusaka7Win4-1-1Kelli CoferMD8 (8)2006-12-02 Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi6Win3-1-1Patience MasterPTS6 (6)2006-10-22National Sports Development Centre, Lusaka5Win2-1-1Patience MasterKO2 (4)2006-05-27International ConventionCenter, Harare (Salisbury)4Win1-1-1Patience MasterSD4 (4)2006-05-06 Nchanga Mine Club, Chingola30-1-1-1Monalisa SibandaNC1 (4)2005-10-15 Mbare Netball Complex, Harare (Salisbury)2Loss0-1-1Fatuma ZarikaPTS4 (4)2005-08-21 Moi International Sport Centre, Nairobi1Draw0-0-1Jota SumailiPTS4 (4)2005-07-23 Mindolo Dam, Kitwe
References
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