Esther Phiri grew up helping her grandmother sell vegetables in a poor township in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
Today she is a world boxing champion and a household name in Zambia. She lives in a house given to her by her country’s former president Levy Mwanawasa and owns a small property empire bought with her prize money.
It is a rags-to-riches tale reminiscent of the Hollywood film Million Dollar Baby, but transported to a country where the average life expectancy is 38 — the second lowest in the world, according to the CIA World Factbook.
Phiri, 23, began her boxing career seven years ago and still trains at the gym where she started.
A biography of Phiri on the Women’s Boxing Archive Network describes how she dropped out of school and became a single mother at the age of 16 after her family fell on hard times.
It said she took up boxing as part of an HIV-awareness sport program run by an international NGO. She was the only girl on the program.
Phiri’s trainer Anthony Mwamba told CNN that when he first met Phiri, she was renting a one-room house, sleeping on the bare floor with her daughter.
“I wanted to cry. There was no food and I had no money either,” he said.
But Mwamba continued to invest in the fledgling boxer, even though his motives came under suspicion in a country where female boxers are not the norm.
Mwamba said: “At first when Esther came onto the scene everyone was saying, ‘No, no, he’s just spoiling her or maybe he’s sleeping with Esther.’ That’s what people were saying including the officials. But to me, I always had the vision, they didn’t know it, but I saw a champion the first time I saw Esther.”
Despite the rumors, the pair continued to train together and soon they were vindicated when Phiri won the Women’s International Boxing Federation’s Intercontinental Junior Lightweight title in 2006.
“Wow, I was so happy, I can’t even explain. It was a turning point for my life,” she said, showing off her title belts,” she said.
“I even promised my late president, he said ‘Esther, you’re not supposed to lose, you need to bring more belts’, and I’ve done it, I’ve done it.”
Today, despite having all the wealth and trappings of an international sports star, Phiri still lives in the community where she grew up and remains friends with the people she knew when she was selling vegetables in the market.
“This is my home township, it’s very close. I’ve got so many friends,” Phiri told CNN as passers-by call out to her in the street.
Phiri is currently Women’s International Boxing Association Light Welterweight World Champion. Her next fight is in January.
She has worked hard to gain her titles and isn’t about to rest on her laurels.
“I’ve got that courage to push myself, to say ‘let’s go Esther,’ because I don’t want to embarrass myself,” Phiri said.
Mwamba added: “Some boxers, you can tell them to wake up early and run for 20 km, and some refuse to do it. But Esther Phiri, she has the heart. She will run those 20 km, even 30 and finish. She has the heart to do it.
“In a fight, women go for two minutes, but I give her three minutes, just like a man. I treat her just like a man. It’s to her advantage.”
She can now drive in her car to the gym, a journey that used to take her four bus rides.
[CNN International]
It is a Hollywood (Zollywood?) Script.
Tony tawalelyapo? Any way Ester has lived her dreams. I have visted her at PHI where she stays, she has a nice fluffy dog and has well tendered lawn, a nice house well furnished. She has changed her life and outlook. Congratulations. I pity the ladies that parade in the night along Lusaka roads addish abba, tall trees, Mikes car wash, Mayela, Alfa bar etc looking for pay per view cheap S.E.X. life’s blessings come in different packages.
how much does she gets per fights?
Please Esther show the men how to look after the money you earn as a pugilist. Except for Charm Chiteule all male boxers became a tragedy when they stopped boxing.
Ya nizi.This story is very encouraging.Awe ba esther keep on with the same spirirt.
A truly inspiration story
This is an encouraging and very uplifting story..Its a wake up to all those that want to give up in life..Never say Never..Impossible is indeed nothing..
How I wish this story could be told over and over in the local media. This would encourage many more youths in other displines aswell. But no, our media thrives on the negatives, eg, esther was drunk yesterday, Fwayo was at a bar on monday etc and such nosensence.
What our media should realise is that these stars are pipo like anybody else and they do things evrybody else does. Therefore, rather than destroying them by highlighting the negatives, it is our responsibilty as a society to encourage them.
This is a very encouraging story. Although our people are too much in seeing and believing. Only people that are close to Esther will be engcouraged. I have failed to convince some people that I was brought up in Misisi compound in lsk where I used to survive on one per day as they always say I’m telling lies when the see my current life. My inspiration lied in my belief that it was my parents and not me who were poor.
BA LT, STOP COPY & PASTE SYNDROME. WHY NOT WRITE YOUR OWN STORY???
Good Afternoon
Esther’s lifestory is truly an inspiration to many Zambians who have known nothing but poverty. You may be a Tamanga (Hustler), scuffing your hands & knees today but with a little help from families & friends, everything’s gonna be alright one day.
Iwe number two uko konse washibeko shani?? Hmmmmmm ha hahahah!!!!!
H.E MC SATA was this afternoon welcomed by millions if nt billions of people in CHOMA-southern province. VIVA PF………………
Can someone tell Ester Phiri and Anthony Mwamba to sign a book deal on this story! It has the potential of being a very good original story. Million Dollar Baby by Clint Eastwood won an Oscar but it was not based on a true story. Now this is the real million dollar baby. And hey, has anyone checked whether the scrip writer for the original movie (MDB) was not one of those volunteers that could have stumbled across Ester and went on to sell the story? I am speculating because of the striking resemblance with the coach that never trained women! But it is very possible!!
Very inspiring story indeed. Please peopIe in the know hook her up with a great PR. She has the potential of making more than she currently makes. I agree with whoever said LT should stop copying and pasting. Esther has a 14-year old daughter. She cannot be 23! Check Post newspaper videos and see the interview for yourself!
Guys watch the video as well on CNN site, trully impressive. I must say i initially ignored this story when i first saw it on LT untill i saw the CNN one. i’ve already apologised to myself….
# 13,Please don’t paste this nonsense on every story.You are starting to irritate me with your nonsense.
Cant you see we are trying to discuss development here?
# 15 U kidding OR it’s True? Ester is a fighter and I have commended her before for raising above poverty. But Our sportmen & women are not well coached how to handle THE press. This reminds me of Mbola the footballers interview. The age he purports to be now and the fact that he finished great 12 years ago doe not tie. You find that he finished grade 12 when he was ONLY 10 yrs Old. How possible. If it’s true Ester has a 14 yr old child and she says she is 23 then she had the child when she was 9yrs Old. Well, well #15 kindly clarify, is that true….
# 18,Mpangula Mputyu ha ha ha i like that.So Mbola finished grade 12 at 10 and Esther had a child at 9, how hilarious.lol
God bless you Esther.
never give and always be determined./..u will always be someone in life! esther ..good luck!
JILI2 has never heard of syndication. Yahoo uses stories from other news sites. We watch Oprah and the like through syndication. Daily Mail, Post, use Assocated Press, ZANA or whatever they are these days. As long as you pay for the stories, nothing wrong using other firm’s stories. Its good business to buy what you cannot afford to make yourself.
@23 well said . . . no media can be everywhere, not even the mega funded BBC or CNN learn to appreciate peoples efforts. LT is doing an excellent job which should be commended.
i like it
i LIKE ESTHER SHE IS GREAT GOD BLESS HER.
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