Zimbabwean boxer Aliyah Phiri is poised to defend his African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight title against Tanzanian challenger Saidi Mkola in Harare on March 22. The 23-year-old Phiri, having claimed the ABU title in December with a decisive second-round technical knockout over Israel “Money Machine” Kamwamba, is now eyeing the newly introduced World Boxing Council (WBC) Africa belt as the next step in his promising career.

Phiri, with a record of 7-2-0, is becoming a sought-after figure in African boxing. His camp is focused on securing victory over Mkola to position themselves for a shot at the prestigious WBC belts. Ali Phiri, Aliyah’s trainer and brother, expressed their determination to target the WBC titles and highlighted the significance of being the only Zimbabwean boxer with an ABU title.

Reflecting on the achievements of Charles Manyuchi, who transitioned from an African champion to a respected figure under the WBC, Ali Phiri emphasized the challenging journey and stressed the need for Aliyah to stay grounded and committed to hard work.

The upcoming title defense against Mkola, a 30-year-old Tanzanian boxer with nine wins and a single loss, serves as a crucial step in Aliyah Phiri’s pursuit of higher accolades in the boxing world. The camp is confident in Phiri’s determination and readiness to overcome this challenge and move closer to the coveted WBC titles.