Zarika loses world title to Mercado

Kenya’s Fatuma “Iron Fist” Zarika has lost her World Boxing Council (WBC) World super bantamweight title.

Zarika relinquished the title early Sunday morning when she lost to Mexican Yamileth “Yeimi” Mercado in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Mercado claimed the sweet revenge with the jury scoring 99-91, 98-92, 99-91in her favour.

Zarika beat Mercado in a split-point decision on September 8 last year, which was her second title defence after having beaten Zambian Catherine Phiri on December 2, 2017.

However, the 34-year-old Zarika has a rematch against Mercado in 90 days as stipulated by the contract they signed before the bout.

Zarika now has 32 wins, 13 losses and two draws while Mercado, 21, now has 13 wins and two losses.