Esther has a life outside boxing | Times of Zambia

ZAMBIA National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television carried a story on boxing icon Esther Phiri this week in which her promoter Anthony Mwamba attributed the failure to stage Esther?s title defence last June to a lack of sponsorship.

There was also a clip in which when asked whether she was expecting a baby, Esther dismissed assertions that she was in the family way with an uproarious laughter, saying that this was mere speculation and that she was fit and busy training in the gym.

I have written numerous articles on the lukewarm or non-response from the corporate world to the cause of boxing and that if it continued, the sport was in danger of dying a natural death.

This week, however, I focus on what Esther could do for herself and others in the event that she stopped boxing for one reason or another.

First of all, I was quite amused by the question of Esther being suspected of being or about to be a mother.

I say amused because she is human like everyone else who should be free to lead her own life.

Why am I saying this? My answer is one great female boxer, well, a former boxing champion and daughter of legendary Muhammad Ali, Laila who retired from the ring in 2007 to concentrate on other causes.

With an undefeated record during her eight years as a professional boxer, Laila dominated the ring like her father.

But leaving the ring saw her waltz her way into viewers? hearts during the fourth session of Dancing with the Stars, and finished in third place.

And she has now established herself as a tireless advocate for health and fitness, having teamed up with the American Heart Association for heart disease awareness and penning the inspiring self-help book, Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit and Personal Power.

But that?s not all.

She is taking on her next challenge: hosting Everyday Health, a new television show about extraordinary everyday Americans who are health heroes, which premiers on September 3 on local ABC stations.

I have picked on Laila because I think she?s a role model not only from the ring, but outside of it, too.

As I have already said, I do not think that there is or there could be no life for Esther after leaving the ring.

Esther could, for instance, team up with one or two health promoting organisations such as the Cancer Support Network of Zambia which among others is working to raise awareness about various cancers, including prostate cancer in men and cervical cancer in women.

Laila was asked why she went into the television show and she says:

?So I?m really excited to be a part of this show because it?s going to reach so many more people and enrich their lives.

?I feel like, as a woman, I?m the backbone when it comes to making sure everyone?s being taken care of?.

Esther will not always be a boxer and time may come soon for her to choose a cause of her liking which she can support by collaborating with others and, like Laila, be the backbone when it comes to making sure everyone?s being taken care of.

mwale.simon@yahoo.co.uk / 0966 755 574

Source: http://www.times.co.zm/?p=3817

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