Sharizal wins after three-minute bout ends prematurely

By NG WEI LOON
Photos by GLENN GUAN

THE crowd's favourite, Tengku Sharizal, emerged the winner at the Malaysian edition of The Contender Asia qualifier at the Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam on Saturday.

In the final, the 25-year-old from Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) knocked out his younger opponent Hashim Ramli.

As both fighters stepped up the tempo in the second of the three-round encounter, the three-minute bout ended prematurely when the 20-year-old Hashim failed to recover.

Getting into the rhythm: Sharizal (right) attacking Bernard in the first semi-final bout at the Malaysian edition of The Contender Asia qualifier.

Tengku said he had scrutinised Hashim’s weakness during his opponent’s earlier fight against Khoo Meng Yang (“Red Dragon”).

“I knew that he was feeling uncomfortable with his leg injury. I kept on pressuring him on his weak spot and just struck it right with the constant attack,” he added.

Four Malaysian exponents competed in the Malaysia Super Four Fights endorsed by the World Muay Thai Council (WMC) to have a shot in making a debut in the second season of the reality show.

Exchanging blows: Abbas (left) taking on Dominik in the curtain raiser for the International Muay Thai Superfights.

Bernard “Headhunter” Radin, who won the Malaysia Ultimate Warrior title last year, was the other fighter in the fray.

In the semi-finals, the finalists – Tengku and Hashim – needed an extra fourth round to eliminate their challengers.

Sharizal warded off the threat from Bernard while Hashim showed better endurance to overcome Khoo to set up the final showdown.

“It was my first time going up against Bernard. He is a worthy competitor and he had trained with The Contender Asia first season winner (Yodsaenklai) from Thailand to prepare for this event. I took awhile to settle down because I was a bit cautious at the beginning of the bout,” said Sharizal.

In the curtain raiser for the International Muay Thai Superfights, the match up between Zidov “Akuma” Dominik of Switzerland and Abbas Ahmadi from Iran went the full distance.

Abbas, who entertained the crowd with his rotational swing, prevailed at the end of the fifth and final round.

However, South African part-time model Olivia Jackson had a punishing time when Tiana “Tiger” Caverley of Australia stamped her dominance to clinch the WMC women’s inter-continental title bout.

In addition, two other battles were also decided by technical knockout.

Brazillian Leornardo Monteiro needed only two rounds to force Kim Khan Zaki (“Zig Zag”) to retire and take the WMC Against Drugs title.

Meanwhile, the referee decided to stop the contest for the WMC International Challenge when Thailand's Sirichai (“Singha Siri”) bled profusely in the fifth and final round of an intense match-up against Sean Wright of Scotland.

~The Star~ - Tuesday July 8, 2008