Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER African Boxing Union lightweight champion Aliyah Phiri has recovered from the trauma caused by his suspension from boxing last year.
He is now back in the gym and preparing for a fight that could get his career back on track.
The 24-year-old pugilist was banned for two years after testing positive for a prohibited substance — furosemide — soon after his ABU title defence against Saidi Mkola of Tanzania in Harare in March last year. He was also stripped of his ABU lightweight title. The ban was announced by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) in November.
“The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) announces that boxer Issa Aliyah Phiri has been sanctioned following an anti-doping rule violation after testing positive for furosemide, a prohibited substance under Section S1.1 of the World Anti-Doping Agency 2024 prohibited list,” said ZOC in a statement released in November.
“This violation occurred during a tournament where Aliyah was subjected to standard doping controls.
“Furosemide, a diuretic, is prohibited at all times due to its potential to enhance performance and its use as a masking agent for other banned substances.” However, Aliyah was ordered to serve an effective one-year ban, backdated to March 2024, after accepting his fate.
The boxer apologised to the nation and explained his situation.
His camp told Zimpapers Sports Hub in November that the boxer took the prohibited substance as part of medication to treat high blood pressure ahead of the fight against Mkola.
Aliyah has already served 10 months of that ban, which expires on March 21, and is now eyeing a comeback fight.
His journey begins with a non-title fight against Mbaraka Mtangebangu of Tanzania in Harare on March 29.
After that, he will gun for the World Boxing Council Africa title in August.
His manager Ali Phiri said the star boxer was looking forward to the fight against Mtangebangu.
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“Aliyah is okay, he is in the gym preparing for a fight that is happening in March,” said Ali, who is also Aliyah’s elder brother.
“This is a non-title fight that we want him to use as tune-up ahead of the big fight that is coming up in August.
“Aliyah should be fighting for the WBC Africa title in August.”
Hassan Milanzi, who is also from the same stable as Aliyah, is similarly set to defend his World Boxing Federation International Super Bantamweight belt in Harare on March 29.
“All the boxers from the stable are looking sharp; they have been training hard ahead of the upcoming fights,” said Ali.
Otto Boxing Stable is home to a number of exciting prospects, including the highly rated Tinashe “Jones” Majoni.
But Aliyah is the pick of the crop.
He is among a generation of exciting boxers from Zimbabwe.
He won the African Boxing Union Lightweight title via a technical knockout (TKO) against Israel Kamwamba of Malawi in Harare on December 8, 2023.
He also successfully defended the belt against Mkola in Harare in March via a unanimous points decision.
Sadly, Aliyah then tested positive for a banned substance soon after the fight.
