From footballer to world-ranked boxer: Aiman’s decade-long fight for glory

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Aiman Abu Bakar, a 34-year-old former footballer, has dedicated a decade of his life to pursuing a professional boxing career. After leaving the football scene, Aiman moved to the Philippines in 2014 and spent years away from his family to achieve his childhood ambition of becoming a world champion boxer. The shift to the Philippines, a country with a strong boxing tradition, provided Aiman with the opportunity to challenge himself and train with top athletes.

In 2018, Aiman's hard work paid off when he won the opportunity to compete on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse bout. His professional record now stands at 13 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted Aiman's career in 2022, but he quickly rebuilt his momentum by implementing rigorous training regimens and closely managing his diet and weight.

Aiman, described as disciplined and driven by a strong mindset, emphasizes the financial constraints and lack of support as his biggest challenges. Despite these obstacles, his passion for boxing has kept him motivated, and his perseverance has led him to win prestigious titles such as the WBC Asia Silver Super Featherweight title in August 2024 and the WBC Asia Super Featherweight title in April 2025.

Currently ranked 36th in the world, Aiman aims to secure a world title for Malaysia and hopes for more opportunities for emerging talents.