Remember the name Saarah ‘Saar-Rah’ Karriem. This determined 21-year-old Cape Town boxer has her sights firmly set on a world championship title, and her unwavering drive suggests she has the potential to achieve it.
Currently in training camp for two significant upcoming bouts, the Cape Town fighter took time to speak with gsport. Karriem discussed her surprising entry into boxing in 2023 and highlighted a familiar challenge in South African women’s sport: The critical need for greater financial support, particularly within women’s boxing.
Kholosa Biyana: Leading with Purpose, Giving Back with Heart
From the pitch to the people: International footballer Kholosa Biyana is changing lives through the…
IOC Approves FIFA Proposal for 16 Women’s Teams at Los Angeles 2028
FIFA celebrates a historic step for women’s football at the LA28 Olympic Games with news…
ICC Pledge Support for Afghanistan Women Cricketers
The ICC has confirmed that it would be providing support for the Afghanistan’s women’s cricket…
“It’s Storytelling That Shifts Perceptions” – PR Specialist Jessica Porter
Jessica Porter of Levergy is transforming PR with impactful storytelling and meaningful connections between brands,…
Netball South Africa Sponsorship Forum Focusses for Financial Stability
Netball SA recently hosted a Sponsorship Forum in Johannesburg involving government officials, sponsors and the…
Pep Mini Netball Programme Expands to Reach All Nine Provinces
Well-known retailer Pep Stores says it is increasing the impact of its investment by expanding…
Echoing a well-worn narrative in women’s sport, Karriem faces the persistent hurdle of underfunding – a reality particularly acute in women’s boxing in South Africa. She acknowledges these financial struggles and hopes her dedication in the ring will not only bring her personal success but also raise awareness and recognition for the sport in Cape Town.
“I feel that maybe in Cape Town, it’s not really that recognised, and you see that we could possibly make a difference. So I’m trying to push that as much as I can possibly to do my part, and just show that. My main aim is to prove that women are not weak.”
Cape Town Professional Boxing Debutant, Saarah Karriem
“There’s so much potential and because most of the fighters maybe aren’t financially stable, they can’t go further. We would have many more talented fighters come up, but because there’s no money, they can’t go as far as they should. This can also demotivate a fighter as well, because, I mean, you work so hard, but then you don’t have the money when you have to go to a competition.”
The UNISA student explained that while she has a few sponsors, she has largely had to self-fund her boxing journey.
“I don’t have a lot of sponsors now, I’d say I have one, one big sponsor currently. I do have a few sponsors as well that would sponsor me with supplements. So far, honestly, I’ve done it by myself, with the help of my parents raising funds, maybe with a BackaBuddy, we’ve done everything ourselves. I’m not going to lie, we aren’t rich people, and we would raise funds.”
She emphasised the significant financial burden faced by female fighters:
“Being a fighter is costly because there’s so much you need. There’s training, what about if you get sick where’s the medication going come from, what about if you have an injury? I mean, where’s their money gonna come from? What if you don’t have the correct gear?”
Despite the financial challenges Karriem remains at the top of her game and is keeping her goals close in sight. Her journey to becoming a fighter started as a means of self-defence but she explains the ‘weird way’ it all came to fruition.
“I was busy preparing for South African Kickboxing Nationals and then maybe about two months before that, I got a boxing offer to fight for a title. So I thought, well, that’s such a cool opportunity. I just took it like another fight, because my main goal was to be a MMA world champion.”
Simangele Hadebe Loses on Points to WBC Silver Flyweight Champ Gabriela Sánchez
A bright start from Simangele Hadebe was not enough to dethrone World Boxing Council Silver…
Warrant Officer Elma Kemp: SA’s First Female SWAT Leader in the UAE SWAT Challenge
Warrant Officer Elma Kemp, the only female member of South Africa’s Special Task Force in…
Caylin Majiedt Clinches Bronze in WAKO Youth Kickboxing World Champs
Grade twelve Eunice High School Bloemfontein pupil Caylin Majiedt has clinched a bronze medal at…
What Is the Q-Collar Spotted at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup?
Necklaces and jewellery are forbidden in football, but what could be the ‘neck piece’ or…
SA Judoka Donne Breytenbach Earns Bronze in Senegal
South African judoka Donne Breytenbach earns bronze medal honours at the 2022 Dakar Africa Open.
#gsportAfrica
Delaine Mentoor Leads New Water Polo Club in Port Elizabeth
2021 Momentum gsport Awards Coach of the Year, Delaine Mentoor, is giving back to the…
“I focused mainly on kickboxing at the time, Muay Thai fights, and some jiu-jitsu fights along the way. Then my dad said ‘Just take the fight’, and I did, but I said to my Dad, ‘I’m not a boxer’. He said to take the fight, you know, for the experience that would be good for you.”
She explained that her initial boxing training was challenging, but as she gained experience, she discovered a genuine enjoyment for the sport.
“I hated the camp because I felt like I sucked at things. I had another boxing coach at the time, Coach Kevin, and he pushed me all the time. I had hard times but then when it came to the fighting day, I realised that I had so much fun, busy boxing. I took another boxing fight a couple of months later, I just kept wanting to do it. I just kept getting more opportunities, and I just fell in love with the fact that there was just so much more to just using your hands good work.”
Joining the world of boxing can be seen as rather serendipitous seeing as her father is a well-known trainer Zain Karriem. Her participation in the sport is also one that is groundbreaking, as she is one of the few female Muslim fighters in the sport.
“I can say with all due respect and absolutely no ego, no just respect to any other religion, but I am a proud Muslim, yes, and I would love to hopefully power more Muslim female fighters. If I can do you can do it, I feel like a lot of female fighters could feel maybe a bit shy about the religion and what if they think this or that. I am trying to be as authentic as possible but I am trying my best to push women’s boxing in the furthest way possible.”
Karriem is also determined to challenge the misconception that female boxers cannot embrace multiple facets of their identity.
“A lot of people think that if you are a female boxer, initially you looked at as masculine but I’m sure that you can still be feminine. You can still be girly, but when it comes to fight time, it’s on!”
Karriem’s career aspirations are clear: she aims to become a world champion. With her dedication and unwavering spirit, she is undoubtedly a strong contender for future success.
The national gold medalist kickboxer is poised to make her professional boxing debut in the Mother City at Fight Island on Saturday, 26 April 2025, competing in the female featherweight division against Seani Morite. When asked about her expectations for her opponent, Karriem responded with the focused mindset of a true fighter.
“I’m always turning up as if I’m busy fighting for a world championship. I genuinely don’t care much about my opponent. I never do because it’s just unnecessary. So I’m always making sure I’m turning up as if I’m fighting for, against a world champion.
I’m always turning up super, super broad, but I know and I believe in my efforts and how hard I’ve worked in a gym and my team, in my coaches, and that I will pull through on the night,” says Karriem.
Main Photo Caption: Driven by the dream of becoming a world champion, 21-year-old Cape Town debutant pro boxer Saarah ‘Saar-Rah’ Karriem is not only making waves in the ring but also passionately highlighting the critical need for increased financial investment in women’s boxing across South Africa. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Keep an eye on Karriem, a dedicated boxer with her sights set high and a voice advocating for women’s sport.
Photo 3 Caption: With the statement, “My main aim is to prove that women are not weak,” Saar-Rah Karriem embodies strength and determination in boxing.
Photo 4 Caption: Facing funding challenges with resilience, Karriem hopes that her dedication will lead to increased financial support.
Photo 5 Caption: Karriem’s journey from self-defense beginnings to pursuing world championship glory is a compelling story of South African sporting talent.
