'King K' crowned IBF Youth featherweight champion

Fuad Esack

Newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa Youth featherweight champion, Ishmaeel “King K” Kadri, 25, from Wynberg, flew the flag for Cape Town, country and continent when he beat Namibia’s Lineekela Nghifindaka, 22, via technical knockout, at Carnival City, in Johannesburg, at the weekend.

“My main goal is to be number one nationally and internationally and to make an impact on the pro side of boxing,” he told Cape Community Newspapers in an interview while still a teenager.

“I’d like to be ranked number one in the world," he said at the time, "and I believe it’s possible.”

Those close to him, including his father Shukri, his current trainers and the acclaimed producer of champions, the late Emil Brice, who died recently, also believed in him.

His father said the young fighter now divides his time between Cape Town and Johannesburg when training for upcoming fights.

“It all started with an X-Box game called Fight Night," said the older Kadri, who introduced his son to Brice. 

“He would spend hours playing this game. I had met Emil a few years before and he encouraged me to bring my boys to boxing, which I eventually did,” he said.

Ishmaeel, the youngest of his two siblings and a former pupil at John Graham Primary School in Plumstead and Bergvliet High, remained at Brice's gym; his brother gave up after a few days.

"Ishmaeel has never stopped training since then,” said Kadri.

In a post on Instagram, young Kadri said he was saddened by his former mentor’s passing, calling him a man who changed his life through boxing. “Mr Brice was the last of his kind, an old-school textbook trainer who could turn the weak strong, turn kids off the streets into national champions,” he said.

“I dedicate our victory to you coach, you always believed I’d be a champion,” he said.

"Ï remember that timid little boy who walked into the gym more than 10 years ago," said Oscar Noëls, who worked with Kadri during his time at Brice's Academy.

"I always knew he was destined for greatness. Congratulations Ish, IBFyouth world champion, so proud of you."

In the first of three IBF championship bouts on the bill at Carnival City, on Saturday, Kadri was named fighter-of-the-night in his first title fight of his career and walked away with the belt in his division.

Kadri entered the ring with a perfect record of 9-0, including three knockouts versus Nghifindaka's 7-2, which also included three knockout victories, giving him the better percentage on paper.

His win on the night saw him maintain his unbeaten record, making it 10-0 to cement his reputation as one of the country’s hottest prospects.

"Firstly, I want to thank the Almighty, my parents, coaches and manager for their unconditional love and support towards my journey to becoming champion of the world. Thanks for your unwavering support towards me, a kid from Wynberg with a dream bigger than what anyone else could see.

“A lot of guys get impatient because they expect things to happen overnight. It doesn’t," he said in an interview with SA Boxing Talk, ahead of Saturday’s big fight.

“It takes years to happen, you just have to trust the process.

“Whether it's a title fight or not, it’s always a must-win, any fight is a must-win, but most importantly, this one,” he said. 

By all accounts, his dreams and words spoken years ago have now become a self-fulfilled prophecy.