Boxer Catherine Phiri knocked out Tanzania fighter Flora Machila in the 3rd round on Saturday in a non-title bout and says she desires to fight Kenyan Fatuma Zarika as she challenges the super bantamweight title in about four months’ time.

The Zambian boxer was fighting at an Oriental Querries Boxing Promotions tournament where five other bouts were hosted.

Phiri told Goal Diggers that she considered the bout as a preparatory stage for the fight in about four months’ time.

“First of all, I want to thank God for the strength, he has just kept me good all this time. For me this match is just a warm up because [Fatuma] Zarika and [Yarmileth] Makardo are fighting in December. So, I’m just waiting for the result and see who I am going to face after 90 days from the 9th of November. For it’s very difficult when you fight a boxer and then you go for a rematch because you know each other and your opponent’s works on your mistakes. But for me I just say no, whatever she has gone to do, whatever she has come with, I was ready for it,” she said.

“First, I wanted to know that maybe she has come with new moves, so I wanted to study her, so then I knew that I could go for her in the third round. Because sometimes it’s very dangerous if you move forward and you don’t know what your opponent is up to. Well, I (want) to fight Zarika because she said she can’t fight me more than two times, so I’m wishing that she wins so that we face each other again.”

In other bouts, Zambian Alfred Muwowo knocked out Tanzania Juma Fundi just after a minute to claim the light weight title. Local boxers Remy Simbeye fought Joseph Chewe and the former won via a Technical Knock Out in round one. David Mwale took on Philemon Hara in yet another title less bout with the latter emerging victorious.