Local KickBoxing giant Karim Bhaloo said he is venturing into professional boxing so as to face tough competition in the industry.
Bhaloo who started kickboxing in 2000 and has represented the country at international events has a record of 18 wins said his first fight will be this month end and says he is geared to become a professional boxer .
He said his first professional boxing bout is on Friday (30October)against Rama Baunsa at G5 Hall, Mavurunza in Kimara , Dar es Salaam, the bout known as Macho Macho is organized by Ngosso Uwezo Boxing Promotions and said he is well prepared for the maiden professional event .
He is currently training under coach Issa Ally at Pulse Gym and his second professional bout is Vitasa bouts on 13 November at Superdome in Dar es Salaam and Organized by Azam Media his fight opponents will be known soon
Bhaloo recalls that his first international kickboxing tournament was in 2002 in Vancouver ,Canada where he won Gold Medal and two years later he fought at the America Challenge 14 and he outclassed is opponent Bryan Jones in 2005 he was crowned world champion at World Kick Boxing Association(WKA)which was held in North America .
In 2006 he also won the North American Challenge 23 which was held in Canada, his opponent was Chase Ingalls from the host nation.
Locally and in East Africa he won the East Africa Kickboxing Championship which was held in Zanzibar in 2006, in 2012 he won the Fight for Dar against Ramadhan Mshana ,in 2013 he won against Hassan Juma popularly known as Tata Boy ,in 2015 be beat a Ugandan opponent two years later he was also in Uganda where he outclassed Sharif Bukenya and in 2021 under Azam Vitasa he beat Tata Boy (Hassan Juma).
" I have done a lot in Kickboxing and currently i have no local opponent in 64kg category, i have been idle for many years , i think its now time to start a new journey in professional boxing, I will start with small fights, then after gaining experience in the industry I be facing big boxers ,am ready for that,” he said.
He said his goal is to help and inspire the next generation by supporting them to grow with combat skills and to help the youth to stay away from drugs and violence