环球英语 — 484：Esther Phiri: A Fighting Chance
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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
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And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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It was the fifth round of the Global Boxing Union’s lightweight title fight in Lusaka, Zambia. The crowd cheered for their country’s sport fighter, Esther Phiri. Esther hit the American fighter, Hondi Hernandez, one last time. Hondi’s face filled with blood. The official ended the fight and named Esther the winner. On this night in October of 2008, Esther Phiri captured her fourth world championship boxing award in only three years.
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Esther Phiri may not be a name that most people know. However, in her home country of Zambia, southern Africa everyone knows Esther. Esther is Zambia’s most popular sports player. And, the people of Zambia warmly call her “Our Esther.” Today’s Spotlight is on the struggles, success and faith of Esther Phiri.
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Esther was born in Lusaka, Zambia in 1983. She was from a large family with seven brothers and sisters. When she was young, her father worked and supported the family. However, when she was in grade six at school, her father died. And without the support of her father, Esther’s family became very poor.
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Esther moved to live with her grandmother in a poor part of Lusaka. She stopped going to school and began working in the local market. She sold different kinds of food and used clothing. Soon, she became pregnant. At the age of sixteen, she was already an unmarried mother. With little education and almost no money, her future did not look hopeful.
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One day, Esther attended an HIV education event in her community. The event was part of a larger project supported by an international non-governmental organization called Africa Directions. The project was for young people who were no longer in school. It taught health education and encouraged the young people to play sports.
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It was at this event that Esther’s life would change forever. Here, she became interested in the sport of boxing. Boxing is a very old sport. People have been boxing for almost three thousand [3000] years. In boxing, two fighters hit each other with closed hands. They fight for 10 periods unless one of the fighters stops, or if one of the boxers is too badly hurt to continue.
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Most people think boxing is a sport for men. And, for most of history it has been. However, today, women are involved in all sports - including boxing.
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When Esther first started boxing, many people made fun of her. She told the sports news group ESPN about the early days of her boxing life.
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“People used to laugh at me. They would say ‘She is insane!’ And they said I was just following men to the gym.”
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But Esther was not just following men to the gym. From the beginning of her boxing days, Esther loved competing. And, soon, other people recognized her skills too. She was soon connected with a boxing manager named Anthony Mwamba. Anthony boxed for Zambia in the 1988 Olympics. Now, he runs a boxing center called Exodus Stables.
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Esther was naturally good at boxing and loved doing it. However, that did not mean immediate success. Esther started her boxing life fighting, but not winning. For a year, Esther trained and fought in three official fights - and she lost them all. So Esther trained harder. And in May of 2006, Esther won her first official fight against Patience Master of Zimbabwe. Since then, Esther has not lost a fight.
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Esther has made a lot of money boxing. She has also been paid a lot of money by a company named National Milling. Esther supports the products of National Milling. They use her picture on their products and on large signs all over the country. This business deal is part of why Esther has become so famous in Zambia.
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Esther’s success and fame are great achievements. But that is not all of her story. After Esther began boxing, one of her sisters died. Esther’s sister had four children when she died. Now, Esther supports her own daughter, Eunice, as well as her mother and her sister’s four children. This is a lot of responsibility. But Esther is happy that she is able to care for them all.
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Esther also uses her fame to set an example for Zambian children. Esther has given much money and clothing to poor Zambian children. However, what she enjoys most is talking with groups of children and young adults. She recognizes the great need for young people to learn about early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. Esther encourages young people to get involved in education and sports. She says,
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“I would advise other young Zambians to take part in sports. Sports would take up most of their time, time they would spend drinking and taking part in many negative social acts.”
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Esther says that in poor areas of Zambia, many young girls do not attend school. They are tempted to fill their time by drinking too much alcohol or even having sex for money. Esther knows that sports can give these young girls something good to do. And she believes that sports will help them learn how to work hard and feel proud of themselves. Esther says,
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“I just give them encouragement.”
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But even for those people that Esther is not able to speak with, she is still an example. Esther tells about how her life has changed the way people think. She says,
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“To me, people say, ‘We did not think that it was possible that a woman could do this. We thought all you could do is get a man, get married, be an at home wife, maybe go to school.’”
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Esther is showing women in Zambia - and all over the world - that they too can break barriers. She says,
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“I made a mistake when I was young and had a child. I was looking for something to do in my life and I found it in boxing. I am keeping my family happy. I am building a life through boxing.”
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Esther has worked hard for her success. However, she knows that she did not succeed on her own. Esther is very thankful for her manager, Anthony Mwamba. Anthony has helped her become a better boxer. However, he has also helped guide her spiritually.
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Many of his boxers call Anthony “Preacher Man”. This is because Anthony is a Christian. He likes to share his faith with those around him. And Esther also shares Anthony’s faith. Each week, Esther, Anthony and other boxers meet for a large prayer meeting. It is important to these boxers to think about spiritual things. You see, as a sport, boxing is usually surrounded by alcohol and sex. But these boxers want to focus on positive things like working hard, being thankful and giving back. In fact, Esther is the first to recognize that her success is not just a matter of her hard work.
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“Everything has changed because of boxing. Before I lacked something to do with my life. Now God blesses me through boxing.”
