CONTENDER ASIA II - The Super 8

Most people have read the result of the Super 8 fight and most must be shocked by the result as many have predicted a win by Tengku Shahrizal of PDRM. The biggest surprise was the elimination of Tengku Shahrizal at the hand of Alif Zulkifli my grandnephew of which none of us would give him half a chance other than Zahari of Boxxwarriors who has seen Alif's transformation after his transfer from M 150 Kota Bharu. Zahari made a comment somewhere that Alif and Wes Jaya may spring a surprise because they are the dark horses.
If you visit Malaysian Tiger's site and look at their poll, Alif didn't receive a single vote. Even I didn't give my grandnephew my vote. How shameful of me.
Now to satiate your craving for news about the event, here are some pictures to lessen your burden. Sorry I am not in the frame of mind to write lengthy fight reviews as I haven't viewed all of my video footage.
The Super 8 in pictures.

This is what they were fighting for, the prestigious belt when you are throned as the champion. Any lesser positions will mean only a trophy. Only the champion will take home RM3,000 prize money and the losing finalist will get half of that.

The VIPs includes Mr. Riaz Mehta The Executive Director of The Contender Asia.

Look who is here. It is Stephen Fox the presenter of Contender Asia. The other guy is a Kelantanese with KL Freestyle Kickboxing. Didn't get his name though we have met at an earlier event in Dewan Kompleks Sekolah-sekolah Wakaf Mek Zainab.

This is Sam, the Production Manager of The Contender Asia. He interviewed Pak Zawi to gauge the spectators responce to the event. Come June, Pak Zawi will have the fleeting seconds of fame when millions of people from 20 countries view the show. Thanks to Bernard who had not much option when Sam asked him for an English speaking spectator. Did Pak Zawi fit in the bill? You will have to watch the show to find out.

Puan Surina gave Pak Zawi the best ringside seat with the permission to shoot videos from the seat. Fair enough when you have several television cameras trained towards the ring, a camera man with a camcorder by the rings edge will not make a good scene.

The fighters will enter the ring walking on a raised platform just like a catwalk. The only difference is you don't see pretty models on it but tough and mean looking oily men displaying their bare muscular upper torso. Here you see Bedu and Eikkasit escorting Alif to the ring. Hey Alif has a six pack now!

The opening act was a fight between Mat Ropi and a fighter from Langkawi by the name of Nasir Saad. Despite the thunderous cheer from the home crowd especially from the MC, Mat Ropi failed to deliver the finishing touch to KO his opponent. Mat Ropi clearly lacks the finishing touch. He won by points though.

The Super 8 fight started with Tengku Sharizal of PDRM against Kudin Raja Jerung of MT. Pokku finished off the fight with a KO over Kudin in the first round! He must be saving his strength for later. Having been KOed in another earlier match with Ediey Selendang Kuning earlier in the mont, Kudin may have not repuperate well enough.

The second Super 8 fight was between Alif and Hashim Ramli of Terengganu. Alif doing the wai kru. Alif's fitness seemed to have improved a lot since his fight against Barbod of Iran in November 2008.

Alif's opponent was Hashim Ramli a fighter with 25 fight records against Alif's 20. Alif made a short work of it and KOed Hashim in the second round. This was the first upset. Terengganu's dream of having her own Nak Muay fighter in Contender Asia II in Terengganu was dashed. Hashim is a good fighter with a good built. They will have to contend with a Kelantanese to carry the Malaysian flag together with Bernard Radin of Sarawak the other qualifier.

Wes Jaya is the fighter from Boxxwarriors. He seems relaxed before the match started. Wes Jaya is a Malaysian based in Vancouver Canada.
Wes doing the wai kru with his opponent Azwan of M - 150 in the background. Wes Jaya won this match by knocking out Azwan in the second round.
Khoo May Yang of TNT came in for the third fight. This fighter is considered by some as impossible to be felled. His opponent Faizal of Malaysian Tigers later proved that nothing is impossible. A low kick to Khoo's leg felled him.

Khoo psyching his opponent before the fight.

Khoo and Faizal in a tight embrace.


Khoo's cornerman trying to ascertain if Khoo was alright after the fight went the distance of five rounds. Faizal was adjudged the winner based on points.

The first semifinal was between Tengku Shahrizal. Nobody consider Alif as a threat to Tengku Sharizal by the way he demolished Kudin Raja Jerung ealier. Alif proved otherwise and Tengku Shahrizal was KOed in the second round.

Wes Jaya came in next against Faizal Siku Emas.

Faizal attacked Wes with his elbow and blood oozed from the wound. The referee stopped the fight in the second round and so Faizal won by a TKO.

Wes was sutured up after the fight. When he stopped over at my house in Pasir Mas with the entourage led by Zahari, Wes looked none the worse for wear. Soon he will be fighting again.

Faizal was given the last instruction befor he fought Alif in the final. I have no pictures of the final fight. Suffice to say, Alif had no answer to the attacks by Faizal. Alif seems to have run out of gas and was happy to be the second best in the tournament. Given the earlier predictions, going beyond the first round was more than enough for him. Getting the scalp of Tengku Shahrizal was prized enough for him. Soon Alif will be fighting in Lumpinee Bangkok. Lumpinee is the dream venue for any nak muays from Malaysia. Being able to fight there will be a dream come true for Alif. Thanks to Boxxwarrior, Alif will soon have his dream come true.


During the break, Faizal seemed to enjoy a cold bath given by his cornerman.

Faizal the champion

The victor was ecstatic when the belt was wrapped around his waiste by Mr. Riaz helped by the topgun of MT.
The vanquised found solace in being able to reach somewhere no one had ever think he would.

All team managers were given a token of appreciation by the Organizer. Here En. Zahari the boss of Kulim Gym was seen getting his.

Mr. Zahari of Boxxwarriors and Mr. Farek of M 150 Kota Bharu. Both men have had a hand in the development of Alif's career as Alif was with M 150 before his transfer to Boxxwarriors.

All the contenders were in the ring to be phtographed. Where is Kudin? Kudin was out of frame on the extreme right. I will find another picture with Kudin in it. My apologies to Kudin and MT.

Pak Zawi reporting fromPasir Mas for Boxxtomoi Muay Thai Magazine.

All photos were shot by Yani.