After stepping into the ring in both Uganda and Kenya, Shakib Cham Lutaaya says one thing has become clear: Uganda still has a long way to go before it can match Kenya’s corporate boxing scene.
The businessman and socialite reached that conclusion after stopping Kenyan musician Arrow Bwoy with a second-round technical knockout at the Vurugu 2 celebrity boxing event in Nairobi on June 20.
The victory also gave him a closer look at how Kenya has developed the sport beyond the action inside the ring.
Speaking on NBS Sport, he argued that Kenya has transformed corporate boxing into a major entertainment product, drawing support from government leaders, corporate sponsors, musicians and fans alike.
If you compare Uganda’s corporate boxing to Kenya’s, Kenya is far ahead of us. I would say they are about 80% ahead. Whenever they organize corporate boxing events, the government gets involved. For example, before my bout, the President of Kenya offered prize money equivalent to UGX 75 million and a Land Cruiser to the winner.
Prize money, however, is only part of what impressed him.
Shakib says Kenya has built an ecosystem around corporate boxing, with public institutions, private companies and the entertainment industry all playing a role in its growth.
They also have modern facilities and arenas with good parking and proper security. When Kenya hosts professional or corporate boxing events, you see ministers attending, ordinary Kenyans turning up, the corporate world supporting the event and musicians backing their respective fighters.
Despite the gap he sees between the two countries, Shakib believes Uganda has the talent to compete.
What the sport needs now, he says, is stronger backing from government, sponsors and the entertainment industry to help corporate boxing reach the next level.