THE World Boxing Council (WBC) is reviewing the fight between Catherine Phiri and Kenyan Fatuma Zarika after Zambia’s Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) appealed against the result.

Zarika retained the WBC super-bantamweight title after a 3-0 unanimous decision following the fight that was hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on March 23, 2019.

The judges, Michael Neequaye, Fillemon Mweya and Irene Semakula gave their scores as 98-92, 99-91, 97-93 in favour of Zarika, much to the disappointment of Catherine’s camp.

Speaking at a briefing yesterday, OQBP operations manager Christopher Malunga said there was violation of WBC rules during the fight which includes the two boxers not under-going the mandatory anti-doping tests.

Malunga said OQBP had submitted their appeal to WBC, who confirmed that the case was under review.

“We have submitted a very good case to WBC and the boxing body confirmed receiving our appeal and were reviewing it. Some of the issues raised include the failure by the Kenyan anti-doping agency to conduct doping tests on the two boxers prior to the fight.

“And the Kenyan agency confirmed that no doping tests have been done in all the three bouts Zarika has fought at home. Doping tests is a mandatory requirement and I even raised the issue with the fight commissioner,” Malunga said.

He said the stable will wait patiently for the WBC verdict in the matter.

This is the second time OQBP is appealing against Zarika, with the first been the 2017 fight in which WBC ordered for a rematch.

And Malunga announced a K672, 144 budget to host the international championship set for August 31 at Government Complex in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Malunga said OQBP has forgiven Africa Boxing Union flyweight champion Alfred Muwowo but challenged the boxer to change his lifestyle to win back the sponsors, promoters and fans’ confidence.

He also rubbished social media assertions that there was a squabble between the stable and former WBC international champion Charles Manyuchi.

“Muwowo and Manyuchi are still our boxers. We have forgiven Muwowo but it’s up to him to prove that he has changed. Last February, Muwowo ran away from OQBP camp without notice and later announced on his Facebook page that he had retired from boxing.