FROM THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER IN MOSCOW
Arusha’s professional boxer Sara Alex will step into the international stage tomorrow (Sunday), to face Ekaterina “Katyusha” Sycheva in a WBA female title contest in Orenburg, Russia.
The eight-round super-bantamweight bout is scheduled at the Marsovo Pole Arena in Orenburg. The Russian Boxing Federation lists the contest at 55.2 kilogrammes and confirms that the vacant WBA Asia belt is at stake.
The fight will mark a major milestone for the Arusha-based boxer with the Russian Boxing Federation saying it will be Sarah’s first professional appearance outside Tanzania. The federation lists Sarah with an 8-2 record heading into the contest.
Sarah will, however, be entering hostile territory against Sycheva, an Orenburg native who will be fighting in front of her home supporters.
Sycheva has made only one recorded professional boxing appearance, defeating Lilia Platova by unanimous decision in Moscow in February, but she brings considerable experience from outside the conventional professional circuit.
Speaking ahead of the homecoming contest, Sycheva described fighting for the WBA Asia belt in Orenburg as carrying significance beyond her professional record.
“I am returning home to Orenburg, to my native land,” Sycheva said, adding that fighting for the title before her home crowd carried “huge honour and responsibility”.
For Sarah, the contest represents another step in a career that has seen her establish herself among Tanzania’s leading female professional boxers. “I am going to put my best,” she told The Arusha News.
Tanzania boxing records show that Sarah has competed in 10 professional bouts and has faced some of the country’s established names, including Stumai Muki and Halima Vunjabei. In March, she challenged Vunjabei for the vacant UBO female world featherweight title in Dar es Salaam, losing by unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
She subsequently spoke about using defeat as motivation to improve. Ahead of another domestic assignment earlier this year, Sarah said: “The defeat was painful because it damaged my record but I have learned from it.”
Tomorrow’s bout is expected to present a contrasting contest: Sarah carries significantly more conventional professional-ring experience while Sycheva will enjoy home advantage and enters the fight with a strong amateur and combat-sport background.
