by James Slater – There have been and always will be many fighters who go around saying they are the most avoided boxers in the sport, but Australia’s Sakio Bika, the former “Contender” T.V show winner, thinks he must be given good odds of laying a legitimate claim to this unwanted title today. “The Scorpion,” as has been revealed in an article in The Sydney Morning Herald, is to take to somewhat desperate measures to ensure he can get fights; Bika plans to take a fight a month for the next three months, starting against an as yet TBA in June..
The article also revealed how 30-year-old Bika, 27-3-2(18), will be having these fights in low-key venues in either Brisbane or Canberra in Australia.
Bika’s trainer, David Birchell spoke of how amazing it is to him that his fighter cannot get any top names to face him in the ring.
“I find it amazing there aren’t fighters lining up to challenge him [Bika] because you can’t escape that he’s a big name in America. If a fighter beats Sakio, they get an instant name there because of The Contender [T.V show]. So many fighters here (in Australia) call out [Anthony] Mundine but the fact is they [only] make a name here if they beat him, it won’t create a ripple in the U.S, and I say that with respect.”
Bika is hoping, even desperate, for a shot at a major world title at 168 pounds. The Cameroon-born “Scorpion” has had two shots at super-middleweight glory, but he came up short on both occasions – against then WBC champ Markus Beyer in 2006 and against then IBF and WBO king Joe Calzaghe the same year. Bika also lost an IBF elimination bout to Lucian Bute in 2007.
Bika’s coach says the hard fight his man gave Calzaghe – Calzaghe reportedly called the points win his toughest-ever fight as a pro – all but ruined Bika’s chances of getting anyone else at that level to risk a meeting with him.
“The worst thing Joe Calzaghe did was say Sakio was the toughest fight of his career,” Birchell said. “He may as well have told the world, ‘fight this man at your peril.'”
Bika, who stopped another Contender star, in Peter Manfredo Junior last time out, wants a fight with current WBA super-middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler, but he says the Dane classes him as a friend and therefore will not fight him.
“I don’t know why it is so hard to get a fight,” Bika said. “I am the [IBO] world champion but it is difficult to get fights. But I have to get active. I am open to fight anyone. I have asked [Mikkel] Kessler for a fight but he says we are friends, we can’t fight. I think we can.”
Certainly, a Bika-Kessler fight would be a good one to see – as would Bika against either of the other current 168-pound champions, come to that. How about “The Scorpion” Vs. Carl Froch, to name one potential barnburner of a big fight for the deserving Australian?
Will guys like “The Cobra” want to risk their belts against the never KO’d Bika though? Sadly, Bika and his trainer think not.