Africa Zone 3 Bantamweight champion, Shaffi Bakari, has opened up about his experience at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games that concluded last week.
Bakari, 26, crashed 3-2 to Sri Lankan Rukmal Prasanna in the round of 16 bantamweight division at the National Exhibition Centre Hall 4 in Birmingham.
The National Police Service officer shied from castigating the judges, rather saying he gleaned some invaluable lessons from his contentious defeat.
“It was an awesome experience and I believe I came out with some important lessons that will make me a better boxer. I really wouldn't want to attribute my loss to officiating,” Bakari said.
Although Bakari didn't want to court controversy, Hit Squad head coach Benjamin Musa went for the judges' jugulars during an interview on Thursday.
The gaffer decried what he termed as 'poor officiating', adding that Bakari was robbed in broad daylight.
“We felt Shaffi Bakari was denied what seemed like an obvious victory. He won three of his bouts and it surprised us when the judges passed a verdict in favour of his opponent,” Musa said.
Bakari was awarded 29-28 by the first judge in all three rounds but lost by the same margin awarded by the second and third judges. The fourth judge gave him a win of 29-28 but lost 27-30 on points awarded by the fifth judge.
Bakari said there was an ever-growing need for Kenyan boxers to attend more tournaments that can help them sharpen their talons before major global showpieces.
“Our main undoing is that we attend major international tournaments such as the World Championships and the Commonwealth without preparing well,” Bakari said.
“Preparation will enable us to learn our opponents more before we face off for titles,” Bakari said.
After the Birmingham mishap, Bakari is crossing his fingers that he will experience a comparatively better season at the forthcoming Africa Boxing Championship scheduled for September 9-18 in Maputo, Mozambique.
“Right now I'm focusing on the forthcoming Africa Boxing Championship and I believe my experience at the Birmingham Games will inspire me to the title,” Bakari said.
Bakari rated Kenyan boxers highly, saying their expertise matched that of their rivals in other countries.
The Birmingham Games were Bakari's second appearance after he made his debut at the 2018 Gold Coast Games as a light flyweight.
He honed his skills at a gym on the Kenyan coastline of Mombasa and earned his first call-up to the national team for the junior Commonwealth Championship in the Isle of Man in England.
