Phiri Not Going To Liverpool To Make Up The Numbers — Mitchell

Zimbabwean-born flyweight prospect Petros Ndabezinhle Phiri is not travelling to Liverpool merely to make up the numbers when he challenges Britain's Brandon Daord for the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) World Flyweight title on November 21.

That is the emphatic message from his manager, former world champion Brian Mitchell, who says the unbeaten boxer is in excellent shape and ready to seize the biggest opportunity of his professional career.

“Petros is looking very good. We call him Phiri. He's doing fantastic. He's been sparring many 12-rounders. He's ready to win the title. He's not just coming as an opponent to Liverpool,” Mitchell told this publication during a telephone interview yesterday.

“He's definitely going to put on his best show. It should be a great fight between two undefeated guys, and we're very confident.

“We expect our man from Zimbabwe, and obviously now from South Africa, to win the IBO title. So, yes, good luck to both fighters. May it be a great fight. But we're definitely confident our man Phiri will win this fight.”

Mitchell's confidence comes as Phiri enters the decisive phase of preparations for what promises to be a defining night in his boxing career, with the Zimbabwean-born fighter seeking to maintain his unbeaten record and add a prestigious world championship belt to his growing collection of achievements.

The November 21 showdown at BOXPARK in Liverpool will pit two unbeaten fighters against each other, with the added intrigue of Phiri having to overcome the challenge of fighting in Daord's backyard.

The stakes could hardly be higher for the 11-fight unbeaten Phiri, who has registered five victories inside the distance and steadily built his reputation as one of the promising talents in the African professional boxing circuit.

His preparations have apparently been geared towards the championship distance, with Mitchell revealing that the fighter has been going through several 12-round sparring sessions in a deliberate effort to ensure he is physically and mentally equipped for the assignment.

Such preparation is significant given the demands of a world title contest, where stamina, concentration, tactical discipline and the ability to maintain intensity over the championship distance can prove decisive.

Phiri, who began his boxing journey at Lobengula Boxing Club in Bulawayo under the guidance of Anderson Sibanda, has travelled a considerable distance since his formative years in Zimbabwe.

He is now based in South Africa, where he has continued to develop his professional career and sharpen his credentials against increasingly competitive opposition.

His journey to the brink of a world championship opportunity is also a source of pride for his former mentor Sibanda and the Bulawayo boxing fraternity, which has followed his progress from the local boxing circuit to the international stage.

Standing in his way, however, is Daord, a formidable opponent who will enjoy home-ground advantage and the backing of the Liverpool boxing faithful.

The British fighter is also unbeaten, making the contest an intriguing collision of two fighters whose professional records have yet to register defeat.

For Phiri, the challenge will be to silence the home crowd and demonstrate that his unbeaten record is not merely a product of favourable circumstances but the foundation of a fighter capable of competing at the highest level.

Mitchell, a former world champion whose experience in the professional game brings considerable value to Phiri's campaign, believes his charge has what it takes to return from England with the championship.

The manager's optimism will undoubtedly provide encouragement to the Zimbabwean, although the final verdict will be delivered inside the ring.

A victory would represent a major breakthrough for Phiri personally and a significant achievement for Zimbabwean boxing, which continues to look for another fighter capable of establishing the country among the world's elite professional boxing nations.

For now, the message from the Phiri camp is unmistakable: they are going to Liverpool with their eyes firmly fixed on the IBO world title, not simply to participate in the occasion.