Kadri crowned IBF Youth featherweight 'King'

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.

- FUAD ESACK

"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.