Sakio Bika: Boxing Contender Season 3 Champion

Elie: Tell us a little about your background?
Sakio: I was born in Cameroon, West Africa. I have four brothers and four sisters. I started boxing when I was 13 years old. I used to live near a boxing gym and I started watching the fighters in the gym. There were always amateur fights on and I saw all the presents the boxers used to get so I started training to be a boxer so I could get the presents too.

I came to Australia for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. I was unsuccessful due to a bad decision from the judges. The crowd cheered for me and booed for the Canadian
opponent who won. I then decided to stay in Australia and become a professional boxer.

Elie: How did you get the nickname “The Scorpion”?
Sakio: I was bitten by a scorpion when I was young.

Elie: You won and became season 3 contender champion, how did it feel to be in the house and on a reality TV show watched around the world?
Sakio: It was a great opportunity to be chosen to be on the TV show. The show boosted my profile around the world. I am constantly recognized especially in America. Being in the house was a good experience. It was hard being in the same house with your opponent eating meals together and playing games, etc. It was hard to concentrate and focus on the fight ahead. Also, the TV cameras were on you 24 hours per day which made it even more distracting to prepare for fights.

Elie: In the finals, you TKO’d Jaidon Codrington to win The Contender title and $750,000, how did that feel?
Sakio: I felt extremely happy to win the fight in the final. It was one of the greatest fights and was included on ESPN classics. To win the $750,000 was fantastic. It has given me more financial security in my life.

Elie: Leaving the house, how was your overall experience of The Contender?
Sakio: It was one of the greatest experiences in my life. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with one of the greatest fighters of all time, Sugar Ray Leonard. I also had the chance to work with Pepe Correa and Buddy McGirt. I still use Pepe as my trainer when I fight in the United States. I also enjoyed having a chef cooking my meals. Overall, the experience of being on the Contender is a memorable one.