KUCHING: 19-year-old Mohd Shafiq Hazziman Jefry created history in the state’s boxing chapter as he has been selected to represent the country to compete in the World Boxing Championship (WBC) Boxingfest Malaysia Debut 2017.
President of Sarawak Boxing Association (SABA), Dato Rahman Haji Lariwoo said Shafiq’s selection for the championship from July 8 to 9 at Mid Valley Conference Centre Hall in Kuala Lumpur has made him the state’s first professional boxer to compete in a world class tournament.
“Congratulations to Mohd Shafiq. I hope he can bring success and honour to the country and Sarawak,” said Dato Rahman.
“The future of Sarawak boxing is on the right track as Sarawak bid to win the overall championship title in Sukma Perak 2018,” he said.
“This is the best chance for him (Mohd Shafiq) to gain valuable experience to sharpen his skills and techniques as he will be facing well-known boxers from throughout the world,” said Rahman who added that the boxer will be competing in the 49kg category.
This also marked another achievement for the state after Mohd Herman Musa was appointed as an One Star Persatuan Tinju Antarabangsa Asia (Aiba) coach and Mirza Chulam Murtadha as a WBC/WBO professional jury.
Mohd Shafiq who has undergone training stints in Bangkok, Thailand and Indonesia is now being trained by MSNS coach Wilbur Andogan from the Philippines.
The young boxer is a national backup boxer who had contributed a silver medal to Sarawak in the last Sukma.
