WORLD boxing council (WBC) Gold Bantamweight champion Cathrine Phiri has left for Mexico for her title defence bout against Mariana Juarez on April 1.

Phiri left around 07:21 this morning via South African Airways from KK International Airport in the company of Oriental Quarries director Ahmed Saadi.

Phiri’s manager Christopher Malunga and coach Mike Zulu will fly from Singapore where they are with Charles Manyuchi who is defending his WBC silver welterweight title against Qudratillo Abduqaxorov on Saturday.

Malunga confirmed the development from Singapore and expressed confidence that his two boxers will emerge victors in their respective title defences.