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This Saturday, August 23, in San Juan, Philippines, Malaysia’s lone professional boxing ambassador Aiman Abu Bakar will step back into the ring for one of the most significant fights of his career. He faces Tanzania’s Kasimu Hamad Haji in a clash for the WBC Far East Silver Super Featherweight Championship—a bout that carries not just personal stakes but national pride as well.
The Fighter from Malaysia
Aiman (11-2-1) has steadily built his reputation as a pioneer of Malaysian boxing. In August 2024, he captured the WBC Asia Silver Super Featherweight title with a stunning fourth-round knockout of Indonesian contender Patrick Liukhoto in Manila. With a record of 11 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, including six knockouts, he has proven himself as a formidable presence in Asia’s boxing circuit. But more than his numbers, it is his mission that makes him stand out. Aiman represents the hope of an entire country that has yet to firmly establish its place in the boxing world.
The Opponent from Tanzania
Standing in his way is Tanzania’s Kasimu Hamad Haji, a tough southpaw from Dar-es-Salaam. Haji enters the fight with extensive regional experience and a reputation as a dangerous puncher, with nearly 60 percent of his wins coming by knockout. Earlier this year, in February 2025, he tested himself against undefeated Colm Murphy for the Commonwealth Silver Featherweight title in Belfast. Although he fell short in the third round, the fight showed that Haji remains a serious threat inside the ring.
More Than a Fight
In an exclusive sit-down interview, Aiman reflected on what this fight—and his career—truly represents. For him, boxing is not only about personal glory or winning belts. It is about pursuing a lifelong dream of becoming a world champion while opening doors for others in Malaysia to follow. He spoke about the challenges of pushing boxing forward in a country where the sport lacks infrastructure and mainstream support, but also about the immense satisfaction of leading the way as a pioneer.
Aiman described his mission as bigger than just competing. He sees himself as an educator and a mentor, someone determined to build grassroots programs and spread awareness about the sport in Malaysia. To him, every step into the ring is a statement—that Malaysian boxing deserves its place on the global stage.
A Defining Moment
As fight night draws near, the bout in San Juan carries weight far beyond the ropes. For Aiman Abu Bakar, it is a chance to prove once again that he belongs among Asia’s best. For Malaysian boxing, it is another vital step in carving out an identity in a sport dominated by nations with longer, richer traditions.
Saturday’s fight is about more than belts and rankings—it is about legacy, representation, and the courage to be the first. Win or lose, Aiman Abu Bakar continues to embody the promise of a sporting revolution for his country.
Good luck, Aiman—may your journey inspire not only Malaysia but the entire boxing community.
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