Posted by Jambo
Fatuma Zarika took the WBC World Super Bantamweight Womens Title from Alicia Ashley Saturday night in the main event at the Dort Federal Union Event Center in Flint, MI.
It was a contest of different styles as the ever aggressive Zarika bored in throughout as Ashley moved and attempted to box from a distance. The first two rounds saw Ashley, hailing from Brooklyn NY by way of Jamaica, staying well away as she circled the ring throwing just enough punches to keep Zarika on guard.
Zarika, who calls Nairobi, Kenya home, began to break through in the third round as Ashley slowed and landed the fight’s first hard punch after trapping Ashley in a corner.
The fourth saw one of the bouts best exchanges just before the bell as the ladies traded big shots. The action continued at a good pace in the fifth round as the pattern was now clearly established.
Aggressive Zarika landing the harder punches with Ashley perhaps throwing more. Zarika was able to close the distance with Ashley in the second half of the fight and thus step up her connect rate. Round nine was an excellent one for the Kenyan as Zarika landed multiple big right hands to Ashley’s head.
The final round saw Zarika maintain the pace she established from the opening bell as she closed the fight well. The judges, as so often happens in these contrasting style fights, were split in their opinions.
Herman McKalpain (96-94) and Ray Michaux (97-93) favored Zarika while judge Katealia Chambers (94-96) preferred Ashley. With the title win Zarika goes to (28-12-2, 16 KO’s) as Ashley drops her championship in her first defense of her fourth title reign and her record dips to (23-11-1, 4 KO’s).
-fightnews.com
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