Black-Tie Boxing and WPBF title bout to make its debut in Malaysia

www.sports247.my Updated: March 31, 2016

Boxing in Malaysia goes upscale. The most exclusive Black Tie boxing event is set to raise the boxing bar in Malaysia and the International stage with the right support and dedicated encouragement from all sectors of society, government and corporate Malaysia.

Come 16th April 2016, for the first time since 1975, Malaysia will be hosting a major boxing event, the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) World Title Championship which is set to take the sport to even greater heights.

Capstone Sports SdnBhd, with close support and partnership from the Government and Vladimir Boxing Club, are working together to stage this major boxing event in this part of the region. Additionally, it is also aimed at helping unearth new talents and help put a Malaysian boxer on the podium, in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Making the announcement at a news conference here today, Mr. Vikram Sivapragasam of Capstone Sports SdnBhd said the World Professional Boxing Federation (WPBF) is awarding the vacant World Title Belt at this prestigious event to be staged at the One World Hotel, Bandar Utama, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

The World Title bout will pit Juan Bedolla Orozco, 22 of Mexico versus Qudratillo Abduqahorov, also 22 of Uzbekistan in a ten round welterweight match which will be the highlight of the Black Tie Boxing night.

“The other bouts will see ten international professional boxers, two of whom are Malaysian boxers, namely Jonathan Yeow Ming in Welterweight and Mohammad Shehranin Featherweight, challenge each other with their skills and boxing prowess. Never before have we seen such a competitive professional boxing event in Malaysia which has a huge following for the sport.

“Being a Professional Belt, the April 16 event gathers youth boxers from the United States, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Singapore and Malaysia who will compete in six different weight categories from rounds of four to ten. There will be 5 bouts followed by the final Title Match.

“What is unique and prestigious about this boxing championship is that we are presenting the event as a “Black-Tie Boxing Event.” A new strict dress code will be enforced – black-tie attire is required – and fashion models will replace ring card girls. Attendance is by invitation only,” explained Vikram.

Capstone Sports SdnBhd, a sports management company helmed by Vikram, is the organiser of this Black-Tie (by invitation only) event. This classy professional event will be graced by about 600 well-heeled Captains of Industry, Senior Government officials and VVIP Guests. VIkram, an avid boxing aficionado, is confident that Malaysia and Malaysians will create history for all posterity to appreciate.

“Boxing’s tradition goes back through the eons. It is the quintessential Olympic sport. This is the culture I want our youth to be imbued with to produce champions in boxing,” noted Vikram.

Vikramalso pointed out that the WPBF Championship is not only a ‘Game Changer’ for boxing in the country, but also raising the bar of excellence for the sport.

“Malaysian boxers could be on par with their regional counterparts if given systematic training and appropriate exposure. Attention should also be given to the simultaneous development of the sport if we want to produce more potential boxers.

“We last heard the strains of Negaraku for boxing, in a major competition when SapokBiki won our first ever gold medal for the 48kg category at the 16th Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. With hope as high as the mountains, we want to give traction and generate interest in boxing so that we may unearth new talents and find a gem that will shine in Tokyo,” said Vikram.