Anisha Dzombe Basheel (born 1 September 1997) is a Malawian professional boxer who has held the Commonwealth female lightweight title since 2018 and the ABU female super-featherweight title since 2017.^[2]

Professional career

Basheel made her professional debut on 5 April 2015, suffering a four round points decision loss to Ruth Chisale at the Robins Park Hall in Blantyre, Malawi.^[3]

After losing her first five fights, one by stoppage; a fourth-round technical knockout (TKO) to Lolita Muzeya in November 2015, she defeated Monalisa Sibanda by first-round TKO to score her first professional win.^[4] Basheel then won her next five fights, all by stoppage, before facing Consolata Musanga for the inaugural ABU female super-featherweight title on 2 December 2017 at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, winning via ninth-round TKO.^[5]

For her next fight Basheel moved up in weight to face Sam Smith on 15 June 2018 at the York Hall, London, for the inaugural Commonwealth female lightweight title. Basheel became the first female to capture a Commonwealth title with a first-round TKO.^[6][7] Basheel dropped her opponent less than 20 seconds after the opening bell; stunning Smith with a solid left hook and following up with two right hands to score the knockdown. Smith rose to her feet to beat the referee's count of ten, only to be on the receiving end of several heavy blows. The end came 1 minute and 10 seconds into the round after a solid jab sent Smith stumbling backwards into the ropes, causing referee Marcus McDonnell to wave the fight off.^[8]

A year later, Basheel challenged undefeated WBC Silver and former IBO female lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron on 20 July 2019 at the Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, Essex. The fight was a WBC final eliminator with the winner earning a mandatory shot at the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO champion Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight title.^[9] Basheel lost the fight by a shutout unanimous decision with two judges scoring the bout 100–89 and the third scoring it 100–90, all in favour of Cameron.^[10]

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
14	Loss	8–6	Chantelle Cameron	UD	10	20 Jul 2019	Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex	For WBC Silver female lightweight title
13	Win	8–5	Sam Smith	TKO	1 (10), 1:10	15 Jun 2018	York Hall, London, England	Won inaugural Commonwealth female lightweight title
12	Win	7–5	Consolata Musanga	TKO	9 (10)	2 Dec 2017	Carnivore Grounds, Nairobi, Kenya	Won vacant ABU female super-featherweight title
11	Win	6–5	Enelless Nkhwanthi	TKO	6 (6)	8 Oct 2017	M1 Centre Point, Lilongwe, Malawi
10	Win	5–5	Joice Awino	TKO	3 (6)	28 May 2017	M1 Centre Point Lilongwe, Malawi
9	Win	4–5	Happy Daudi	KO	2 (4)	5 Feb 2017	National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
8	Win	3–5	Elizabeth Mota	TKO	2 (6)	1 Jan 2017	M1 Centre Point, Lilongwe, Malawi
7	Win	2–5	Asha Ngedere	TKO	1 (6)	19 Nov 2016	Robin's Park, Blantyre, Malawi
6	Win	1–5	Monalisa Sibanda	TKO	1 (4)	30 Oct 2016	M1 Centre Point, Lilongwe, Malawi
5	Loss	0–5	Lolita Museya	UD	8	27 Aug 2016	Government Complex, Lusaka, Zambia
4	Loss	0–4	Lolita Museya	UD	8	13 May 2016	Umodzi Conference Centre, Lilongwe, Malawi
3	Loss	0–3	Ruth Chisale	MD	4	6 Mar 2016	Lilongwe Community Centre, Lilongwe, Malawi
2	Loss	0–2	Lolita Muzeya	TKO	6	28 Nov 2015	National Sports Development Centre, Lusaka, Zambia
1	Loss	0–1	Ruth Chisale	PTS	4	5 Apr 2015	Robins Park Hall, Blantyre, Malawi

References