Fierce Mexican Boxer Seeking To Extend Winning Streak Against Kenya's 'Iron Fist' In Nairobi (Photos)

Young, upcoming Mexican boxer Yamileth Mercado goes into the World Boxing Council (WBC) world super-bantamweight title bout against current champion, Kenya's Fatuma Zarika, having lost only once during her stint as a professional boxer.

Yamileth Mercado.

The 20-year-old made her debut in professional boxing against compatriot Yoatzin Meraz on July 19, 2014, a memorable one indeed, as she trounced her opponent to be declared the winner via unanimous decision. A sanguine Mercado resumed training after her first victory and five months later, she recorded yet another unanimous decision victory over another Mexican, Maria Susana Uribe Ramirez. Her only loss in a professional boxing match came last year on March 3, when she went down to Jessice Arreguin Munoz in Chihuahua, Mexico.

The WBC world super-bantamweight bout against the prolific 34-year old Zarika will arguably be Mercado’s biggest fight of her embryonic boxing career, ensuring the stage is set for a gargantuan contest come September.

Fatuma Zarika.

“Truth is, we’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for long, so we are very excited, working very hard, here in Hermosillo, Sonora. I am experiencing a different climate, new changes, new types of training; I had never done a camp before. I hope to bring this belt to Mexico,” Mercado said.

Judging from their last fights, both boxers are set for the task having both recorded victories the last time they stepped into the ring. Mercado’s last fight was on June 1 this year in Hermosillo, Mexico, where she edged out her compatriot Beatriz Arangure on unanimous points in their super featherweight bout.

As for Zarika, she successfully defended her WBC super-bantamweight title against Zambia’s Catherine Phiri at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi in December, 2017. Mercado will jet into the country on September 4, five days ahead of the most anticipated boxing match in recent Kenyan history to be staged at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC). Tanzania's former Big Brother Africa contestant, Idris Sultan, will be among other celebrities in Nairobi for the fight.

Zarika has been training hard in the UK for the last one month courtesy of SportPesa, under the guidance of two trainers and popular UK Boxing champ Tony Bellew. She returns to Kenya this Saturday, September 1 at 2pm aboard an Emirates flight.

Yamileth Mercado.

Fatuma Zarika.

Yamileth Mercado.

Fatuma Zarika.

Yamileth Mercado.

Kenyan AMVCAs Nominees Anxious As Winners Are Unveiled This Saturday

Kenyan nominees in this year's Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) will know their fate this Saturday, September 1, as the award ceremony takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. Movers and shakers in the continent’s fledgling film industry will converge at the Eko and Suites Hotel in Victoria Island, for the biggest night of African productions.

Kenyan productions and personalities including 18 Hours (with five nominations) Nyce Wanjeri (Best Actress in series/comedy), Denis Maina Wanjohi (Best Documentary), Sarika Hemi Lakhani (Best Indigenous Language movie or TV series) and Victor Gatonye’s K.E.R.U. in the same category, remain hopeful to bag accolades at the prestigious gala event.

Lighting up the stage at the sixth edition of AMVCAs will be some of Nigeria’s biggest and award-winning musicians including songwriter and producer Cobhams Asuquo, rapper and song writer Falz and singer Adekunle Gold.

The night promises an exciting and diverse line-up of stellar performances as viewers will also get to see live on stage the SEKI traditional dance troupe. The dance drama group are heavily influenced by traces of American tap dance which originate from five different masquerade groups of the lower Niger Delta area of Nigeria. On the opposite end of the spectrum will be a classical performance by Omo Bello, the award-winning Nigerian soprano, and a special performance by singer and Big Brother Naija 2017 alumni, Bisola Aiyeola.

The red-carpet event will be broadcast live on all Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv. Viewers can join the conversation using the hashtag #AMVCA2018 and follow @dstvng, @gotvng and @africamagictv for live tweets. For more information about 2018 AMVCAs and other Africa Magic programming, visit www.africamagic.tv

Selina Premieres Second Season With Fans In Kisumu (Photos)

Kisumu viewers of popular Swahili telenovela, Selina, experienced the premiere of the second season in style when the cast of Selina hosted over 300 fans to a screening at Anga Cinemax in Kisumu. The meet and greet organised by Maisha Magic East accorded ardent followers of the show, local film producers within Kisumu, DStv and GOtv subscribers and media spend an entire evening with the cast members and producers of the popular show.

Speaking during the meet and greet, GOtv Kenya GM Simon Kariithi reiterated the commitment by MultiChoice to make entertainment on its platforms more accessible to the viewers.

He said, “We as MultiChoice, via our local content Channel Maisha Magic East are committed to keeping to our promise of giving our viewers the best local entertainment. Because of the loyalty of our viewers, Maisha Magic East has become a very popular channel within East Africa. This
screening and opportunity to meet the stars we see on TV is our way of appreciating your support as we endeavour to improve your interactions with us on both our DStv and GOtv platforms.”

The main cast including Nelson (Pascal Tokodi), who plays the rich young man who falls in love with Selina (Celestine Gachohi), Luke (Abel Amunga), Jacqueline (Gloria Songoro), Patricia (Helen Keli), Collete (Joyce Maina), Reagan (Kone Nouhum), Zoe (Mbeki Mwalimu), Kristina (Victoria Mzenge), Biko (Peter Kamau) and Zakayo (Wycliffe Eravuna) were at the meet and greet that also served as a
screening of the first and second episode of the second season of the show.

Selina is a classic Cinderella-like tale that combines the romance of the fairy tale with the relevant social issue of educating the girl child. It depicts the life of Selina, a 19-year-old girl, who goes to work in a wealthy city home after being brainwashed by her step-mother, Kristina, who has convinced her to leave her family and education behind and instead work as a housemaid in order to support her family, her sickly father and her younger step-brother and sister. As fate would have it, Selina falls for the youngest son of the house where she is deployed to work.

Selina airs every Monday to Wednesday at 8.30pm EAT on Maisha Magic East on DStv channel 158 and GOtv channel 4.

More photos below: