SpiceRead: 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.