Zimbabwe's first pro fem boxer: Monalisa Sibana

Another country yields its first female (pro) boxer. I like how loving the PR statement sounds, albeit she's still a product they're marketing. Monalisa - stage name? Good one, if so. Note the discrepancy between the spellings tho, between the paper and the PR quote - I'd guess "Mana" is a typo; this looks like a straight press release. Couldn't track down a pic.

Zimbabwe female boxer ready for fighting Kenyan featherweight champion

People's Daily Online - Zimbabwe's first professional female boxer Monalisa Sibana's preparations for her upcoming non-title fight against Fatuma Zerica, the Kenyan featherweight champion, got a timely boost after a local bus company offered her free transportation for all international bouts.

"Manalisa is a rare talent and we feel that it is part of our social responsibility to assist her realize her full potential. In line with this we are offering her free transportations to and from all international assignments within the region," the company's public relations manager Webster Mapuranga said on Sunday.

Last month the same company also extended a helping hand to the Zimbabwe karate team which participated in a tournament in South Africa.

Sibanda is the number one contender for a shot at the African Boxing Union belt, which is held by another Kenyan, Conjestina Achiening, but a number of professional hiccups have seen the fight dates shifted on numerous occasions.

"This time all the paperwork is in order and the Zimbabwe Boxing Board has given us the green light to go ahead with the bouts. She will definitely be in the ring next week in Nairobi," said her spokesman Nyasha Manhau.

The fight is being held under the Kenyan-based Jab-Jab Promotions.