Lightweight boxer Anisha Basheel has secured a title fight against Congolese Naomi Yumba Therese on March 26 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) lightweight fight comes just 20 days after Basheel’s other fight in Dubai on March 5 against German Ramon Graeff.
The Dubai fight is non-title as such boxing rules allow her to fight again within a month.
Both Basheel and her manager Clyde Msonda, who is based in Zimbabwe and runs Delta Force Boxing Academy, confirmed the schedule.
Msonda said: “Straight from Dubai, we will camp in Zimbabwe then fly to DRC but that will be subject to the approval by her employers MDF. I have to write to her workplace so that she be released.
“The fights have been confirmed and all paperwork done. We are now writing an official request to her employers the Malawi Defence Force so that they can release her. We plan to start camp on February 1, here in Harare.”
He further said both fights offer an opportunity for Basheel to revive her international boxing career.
“The fight is an opportunity for Basheel to shine on the world stage and court more fights. There will be more promoters and match makers in Dubai plus major global televisions. It’s a good platform to market herself,” said Msonda.
Basheel has received the news with excitement.
“You know the past two years have been difficult because of Covid-19 pandemic. Now to have back to back international fights it’s great news for me. It is good news for my career. I am so excited and I promise not to disappoint,” she said.
Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board president Lonzoe Zimba has advised the boxer to prepare well for the fight.
He said: “Fights such as these are rare. These are opportunities that must be well utilised. Match makers and promoters from all over the world will be watching her. She will be fighting on the world stage. She must ensure she wins the fight but to do that, she must prepare well.”
The 22-year-old Therese, who is from Lubumbashi in DRC, has a record of seven fights, winning three fights and losing the other four.
