Africa-Press – Kenya. Fatuma Zarika is focused on securing a rematch with Kirsty Hill as she enters the final phase of her career. The 41-year-old is seeking another shot at the Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) Super Featherweight title, which she lost to Hill in a split decision in May 2024 in Blackpool.
“I am still pushing for that second fight because it was part of the agreement, and I haven’t seen it honoured,” Zarika said.
“That chapter cannot close the way it did.” Zarika maintains she did enough to win the bout, which remains one of the more disputed decisions in recent women’s boxing.
“I stepped into that ring, did my job, and believed I had done enough to win,” she said. “Even people around the fight acknowledged it didn’t feel right.” Despite the setback, Zarika has remained active. On April 3, she stopped Tanzania’s Flora Machela in the eighth round at a SportPesa Boxing Night event in Nairobi. “I needed that comeback to prove I still have it in me,” she said. “It wasn’t just about winning—it was about showing I can still dominate.”
The victory added to a professional record that includes more than 30 wins and 20 knockouts. Zarika, Kenya’s first World Boxing Council female world champion, won the title in 2016 and defended it until 2019. She later moved up in weight and continued competing internationally. “When I won the world title, it was bigger than me,” she said.
“It showed that a girl from Nairobi could compete on the world stage.”
She says experience and preparation remain key as she continues to compete. “It’s not about how old you are, it’s about how well you prepare,” she said.
“If I train right, I can still compete with anyone.” Her priority remains a rematch with Hill to resolve the 2024 result. “I want that rematch because I know I can settle it properly in the ring,” Zarika said.
“I don’t want doubts—I want a clear ending,” Zarika says. She hopes to conclude her career on her own terms. “I am not done yet—I still want to leave the sport as a champion,” she said.
