Monalisa to defend title against Bulgarian boxer

Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter

WOMEN International Boxing Association intercontinental welterweight champion, Monalisa Sibanda, is preparing to defend her title against Bulgarian challenger, Nikova Kalina, in Denmark, on November 20. 

The 38-year-old was supposed to fight Tanzania’s Happy “Sniper” Daudi, this month in Dar es Salaam. But, the Tanzanian has been excused from the bout, to pave way for Kalina. 

That has afforded Sibanda a chance to fight against a boxer, from outside this continent, for the first time in her career, which stretches for over two decades. 

Sibanda, who had been training alone at home, has intensified her preparations since the opening of gyms, last week. 

“First of all, I would like to salute the Government for sanctioning the opening of gyms in the country,’’ she said. 

“I have been training alone at home and you know how it is training at home. 

“I have to quickly adjust to the change that was announced two days ago that I will now have to prepare for my title defence, against Kalina, not Daudi. 

“I have been preparing to face Daudi, all along but, I am not complaining, I am actually happy that I will be fighting someone, from another continent. 

“I think this is a huge opportunity for me to make waves across the globe. It is a chance for me to write my own history in this discipline. 

“I am ready to face her and I promise Zimbabwe to brace themselves for some sweet news, at the end of that November 20 night.’’ 

All her fights, until now, have been on the continent. 

“I have never had a chance to fight someone from outside Africa before and this is an opportunity to really show the stuff that I am made of,’’ she said. 

“I am ready to roar. 

“The fight will be tough, very tough, but believe you me, I am not scared of anyone in this world. 

“I am ready to fight any boxer and Kalina is no exception. 

“That I am fighting someone I have never faced before gives me more inspiration ahead of the bout. Sibanda is now under the tutelage of Lawson Muhambi with Tatenda Mashingaidze her conditioning coach.