KUALA LUMPUR: He’s a footballer turned boxer.
Aiman Abu Bakar, who is a former Negri Sembilan President’s Cup footballer, made the bold decision to move to the Philippines in 2014 to devote himself to a sport he had always been passionate about.
The limited opportunities to develop a career in Malaysia’s professional boxing scene at the time also prompted him to challenge himself in a country with a strong boxing tradition.
“I wanted to challenge myself, live among them, train with them and understand how they think and what motivates them in boxing,” he said.
The sacrifice began to pay off as a string of victories opened the door for him to meet American boxing matchmaker Sean Gibbons.
The encounter took Aiman to a bigger stage when he was given the opportunity to compete on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse bout at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here in 2018. It was also his first appearance in Malaysia after four years living abroad.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted competitions and international travel, forcing Aiman to rebuild his career momentum after he returned to active competition in 2022, Bernama reported.
Since then, he has stepped up his preparations by undergoing 12-week training camps, covering strength and fitness training, and boxing techniques as well as closely managing his diet and weight under the guidance of a nutritionist.
“During that period, I train six days a week, with two sessions a day. My morning routine usually comprises strength and conditioning exercises such as weightlifting, cycling or running before returning to the gym for about three hours of boxing training.
“Sometimes you have no mood to train, your body is aching or it is raining, but you still have to do it. For me, discipline and a strong mindset keep me going to the gym to train,” said the 34-year-old, who counts Pacquiao, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and Terence Crawford among his boxing idols.
Aiman, who competes in the super featherweight division, now boasts a professional record of 13 wins, two losses and one draw.
Currently ranked 36th in the world, Aiman – after more than a decade of building his career in professional boxing – remains determined to pursue a world title, while recognising that reaching that level will require an experienced team and strong sponsorship support.
“Being a Malaysian and fighting abroad gives me the motivation to do whatever I can for my country and carry the Malaysian flag every time I fight,” he said.
