Kenya’s Hit Squad bantamweight contender Shaffi Bakari is stepping into the IBA World Boxing Championships, hoping to finish on the podium after years sharpened by hard lessons.
The 31-year-old will anchor Kenya’s campaign in Dubai at a record-breaking tournament running from December 2–13, the richest event in amateur boxing history.
Bakari and the national squad departed Nairobi on Tuesday night, headed for a championship now defined as much by its financial stakes as its global prestige.
The IBA has laid out an unprecedented US$8.32 million purse across 13 divisions, instantly turning Dubai into a high-pressure arena where skill, composure, and ring intelligence will decide life-changing payouts.
The event opens on Wednesday, drawing world-class amateurs and continental champions chasing prize money that dwarfs anything seen in the code. Gold medallists will walk away with Sh38.7 million (US$300,000), silver Sh19.3 million (US$150,000), and bronze Sh9.7 million (US$75,000). Even reaching the last 104 guarantees a cheque — an incentive that intensifies the competition.
Kenya has sent a lean but ambitious delegation, built around a blend of experience and rising talent.
Bakari, easily the most seasoned of the squad, understands both the opportunity and the risk. For him, Dubai is not merely another international outing. “This is the biggest financial and competitive opportunity of my career,” he said. “I know what it would mean for my family, my team, and my country if I make that podium.”
He added, “The talent here will be world-class, but I feel prepared. I have worked for years to get to this level, and now is the time to deliver.”
Bakari’s rise began far from the lights of a global championship. Raised in Mombasa’s Kisauni neighbourhood, he discovered boxing by peering through the windows of Mwanandondi Boxing Club, drawn in by the sound of skipping ropes and punching bags.
“My interest in boxing began the moment I accompanied my friends to watch a training session in my neighbourhood gym,” he said.
Under grassroots trainer Lemmy Katibi, he built his foundation the old-fashioned way: barefoot roadwork, obsessive footwork drills, and discipline shaped by hardship. The family’s financial struggles never broke his focus. “I was exposed to numerous challenges owing to our humble family background,” he said. “But all these problems made me even stronger and more determined.”
His breakthrough came through Kenya’s National League, before a move into the National Police Service gave him access to more structured training.
International appearances followed — Hamburg 2017, the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the 2019 African Games in Rabat, where he became the first Kenyan to reach a final since 2007. Now, Bakari believes Dubai represents the next step in a career built on resilience. “My goal is to stand on that podium,” he said. “I want to prove that a Kenyan boxer can break barriers at this stage.”
He has studied tape obsessively. “I know their strengths, but I also know my own. I trust my power, my movement, and my discipline.”
Training camp has been intense, designed to sharpen his decision-making and conditioning. “I feel sharper than I’ve ever been,” he said.
Head coach Benjamin Musa agrees. “Shaffi has grown in every dimension — technically, mentally, physically. He understands what major championships demand.”
Kenya’s disappointing medal return from the previous Worlds still lingers, but Bakari treats it as an education rather than a failure. “I learned a lot — especially about staying calm under pressure.”
Bakari draws inspiration from Floyd Mayweather, Vasyl Lomachenko, and Kenyan icons Nick Okoth and Benson Gicharu. Away from the ring, he relaxes with swimming, family time, and his favourite coastal dish: rice with potato soup. As the Dubai bell approaches, his mindset narrows to a single objective. “This is my moment,” he said. “I’m here to fight, to win, and to make Kenya proud.”
