WIBA ranks Esther second

ESTHER Phiri has been ranked second on the Women’s International Boxing Association welterweight category.

This is despite the boxing champion having only fought once last year, in a WIBA welterweight world title bout against Sandra Almeida, which ended in a controversial technical draw.

Esther, who was forced into retirement following erroneous medical tests, made a comeback in 2014 and will next month fight South Africa’s Julie Tshabalala in a WIBA interim world champion title.

According to the January WIBA World Rankings, Cecilia Braekhus of Norway, who is WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and IBO champion, is first in the welterweight category.