FRENCHMAN WINS IN UNLEASHED FIGHT NIGHT MALAYSIA
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 May 2016
KUALA Lumpur, Malaysia ? Frenchman Nicolas Farrugio of the Cross Muay Thai used his powerful kicks and solid punches to knockout Iraqi Ahmed Saad of Global Elite Gym in the main event of the Unleashed Fight Night 1 held Saturday at the Asia Pacific University hall in Bukit Jalil.
The 28-year old Farrugio immediately attacked Saad with his kicks and left-right combinations in the opening round that saw the Iraqi backpedalling.
Saad tried to counter but Farrugio continued to dominate the fight with his kicks and punches.
?My game plan was really to destroy first his knees which I already had noticed that he was weak in his past fights,? said Farrugio.
Farrugio continued his relentless attack in the second round and finally caught Saad with his right to the body followed by a whopping left hook on the face that sent down the Iraqi lying at the corner.
Saad was unconscious for almost five minutes while being attended by his team including Farrugio, who prayed for his immediate recovery. Saad later woke up and was brought by his team to his quarter as Farrugio was being declared as the winner on top of the ring.
Farrugio improved his record to five straight wins with one knockout. He trained for this fight under his two mentors from Thailand ? KRU Tam Pisan Damriram and Robert Ponsatorn Pimthong ? at the Cross Muay Thai gym of The School at Jaya One in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
He also sparred with undefeated Malaysian professional boxer Aiman Abu Bakar to improve his boxing skills.
Farrugio?s teammate James Yip also scored a convincing win by a decision against Adai Fight Club?s Kayirshan in the 68 kilogram category.
Yip exploded in the second round after he was hit by a low blow by retaliating with his kicks and punches. Yip continued to dominate the final round as Kayirshan already lost his composure.
In the co-main event, Shannon Lam of TNT Kickboxing prevailed over the never-say-die Zuika Marliana of AIX Warrior in the women?s 61 kgs. Category.
Lam landed more punches and used her knees to prevent Marliana from attacking to win by a decision.
K1 Rules were used by the organizers from the Global Elite Gym and APU Muay Thai Club.
However, referee Steven Ban still allowed Russian Artem Bogomaz of TNT to continue beating his younger opponent and substitute Michael Sam despite being knocked out four times already in the first round.
Ban finally put a stop on the mismatched fight only after Sam was again downed twice by Bogomaz? powerful punches in the second round.
K1 Rules states that ?the three-knockdown rule is in effect (three knockdowns in a round results in a technical knockout).? The rules also says that ?both the referee and the ring doctor have full authority to stop the fight.?
The other results:
Ling Kai Tze (Iron Grid MMA) won by split decision over Hong Wua (GEG);
Ayanda (Asia Pacific University) won by a unanimous decision over Liyana Razman (TNT Kickboxing);
Sulaiman (APU) won by a decision over Mahyar Tab (Momash University);
Liyana Nazira (AIX Warrior) won by decision over Jasmine Teo (Taylor?s University);
Chong Zhuang Kit (Utar) beat Yerkin Aralbayer (Adai Fight Club) by 2nd round knockout;
Neerasheni (Monash U) won by a decision over Vanessa Chin (GEG);
Hizairul Azuan (Naga Hitam Sha Alam) beat Berzhan Kuzaidarov (Muscle Club);
Jeshan Dhillon (Maximus Fight Academy) beat Adrian Yow Kok (KCT Combat Team).
Photo: Frenchman Nicolas Farrugio of Cross Muay Thai is jubilant after scoring a second round knockout against Iraq's Ahmed Saad (shown still lying on the canvas). (photo by LITO DELOS REYES)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Lito delos Reyes.
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