Sakio Bika Wins World Title in Boxing

While the boxing federation is searching for legitimacy after disputed elections, Cameroonian boxers are doing well in the diaspora. After Carlos Nesting Takam who won the WBF heavyweight title recently, Sakio Bika has added another new feather to the cap of Cameroonian boxing by winning the WBC super middleweight title on Saturday June 22, in New York-USA.

Sakio alias 'The Scorpion', defeated Marco Antonio Periban from Mexico on points after when two judges scored him the winner by margins of 116-112 and 115-113, while the third judge scored the bout a 114-114 draw. The victory is very significant for Sakio who was in his fourth world title fight given that Marco Periban has been invincible in his last twenty fights. "It means a lot," Bika said after the victory. "Periban was a very tough guy. I respect him. Like all Mexicans, he comes to fight... I always work hard. When you are working hard, everything comes out right," he added.

It is the second world title for Sakio who won the IBO version in 2008. Sakio Bika has won several, national and continental titles in the super welter category, a performance which earned him a place at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games where he defected after being butted out at the 8th finals. Sakio Bika who begun boxing in 1994 at the Youth and Animation Centre in New Bell-Douala with Zepol boxing club, did not however abandon his dream to become a great boxer.

He joined a club in Australia and continued training and today is reaping the fruits of that labour. Aged 34, Sakio has fought 39 times in his professional career, recording 32 victories, 5 defeats and 2 draws. He is due to fight the former holder of the WBC title, American born, Andre Ward. AFP reports that the WBC stripped the title from Ward earlier this year, for failing to fight a mandatory challenger soon enough and not showing proof of his claim of a shoulder injury that had required surgery. Bika called out Ward for a rematch after his victory. "If Andre Ward wants to fight me, come to my manager. I'm ready," Bika said. "I want to fight him. I want to fight the best."