Ugandan socialite Zari Hassan’s husband, Shakib Cham Lutaaya, has stirred the East African entertainment scene by openly challenging Kenyan celebrities to a boxing match.
Fresh from his bruising defeat against Ugandan singer Rickman Grenade during The Kampala Rumble on August 30, 2025, Shakib declared that he was far from done with the sport.
Drawing inspiration from global entertainment-boxing crossovers involving Jake Paul and South Africa’s Cassper Nyovest, he insisted that East Africa was ripe for similar high-profile showdowns.
Speaking on the Three Truths No Lie podcast, Shakib expressed his desire to face a Kenyan star, dropping names such as Khaligraph Jones, Arrow Bwoy, Willy Paul and even comedian Eric Omondi.
“Kenyan promoters out there, if you know that there is anybody that I can challenge in a boxing match, let’s make it happen,” Shakib said, stressing that training and seriousness were a must. According to him, media personalities in the ring naturally draw massive crowds and public intrigue.
Among those challenged, Arrow Bwoy was the first to embrace the idea, responding with characteristic humour. The ‘’Digi Digi ‘’hitmaker, calling it “mboka,” suggested he had been waiting for such a moment.
“I was just scrolling on social media and saw a post that this guy from Uganda, Shakib, was trying to challenge any Kenyan artist to a boxing match. Let me tell you, I have been yearning for this. Mboka imejileta na si mboka tu, mboka inavuka boda. The meal is ready and I’m up for the challenge,” he declared.
In a lighthearted jab, he warned Shakib not to bring Zari Hassan to the ring, joking: “Please don’t tag along with your woman. She might faint and we will have a double tragedy. Zari, if you’re hearing this, just send your boy to come and collect the beatings. International beating. I’m up for the challenge.”
Willy Paul, on the other hand, took a more diplomatic stance, firmly declining the invitation. While praising Shakib, he made it clear his refusal was based on admiration for Zari Hassan.
“I don’t advocate for that because your wife is a huge fan of mine,” Willy Paul remarked, adding that he preferred to keep things cordial.
However, he singled out one person in Shakib’s circle with whom he had no love lost. “The only person that I don’t like in your family is the other guy. The other guy that calls himself Lion (Diamond Platnumz),” he said, reigniting his long-standing beef with the Tanzanian star.
Still, Willy Paul insisted his choice wasn’t out of fear. “Remember, I killed a lion? I turned a lion into a rat,” he boasted, calling himself “a bad man.”
Meanwhile, Khaligraph Jones, whose name was also thrown into the mix, has yet to formally respond to Shakib’s challenge. As the dust settles, fans across the region are eagerly watching to see whether the self-styled boxing revival in East Africa gains momentum or fizzles out as mere celebrity banter.