KOTA KINABALU: July 18, 2026 – Mohammad Zairul Zainal secured his first TKO victory as a professional after defeating Mohammad Haikal Saifulah Maidin in the Super Featherweight category (59kg) at the BAM Championship at the Putatan Indoor Stadium on Saturday.
Zairul said he had not expected to claim the win given the short preparation time, but was grateful that his efforts and training had paid off.
“After winning this bout, I felt very, very happy – and I didn’t expect to win, given my training, the fact that I’m still learning and many other factors. But thank God for giving me this victory,” he said.
He said his opponent had put up a good performance, particularly in controlling distance, but the instructions from his coach proved to be the turning point that secured him the TKO win.
“His movement was good, and his distance control was impressive. But my coach told me to go for his body. That’s how I managed to win by TKO,” he explained.
According to Zairul, the first round was the most challenging moment, especially when he took a heavy punch from his opponent, before he managed to adjust his rhythm as the fight progressed.
In preparation for the BAM Championship, he focused primarily on jogging to shed weight – a regimen he began only after receiving his fight contract, roughly a week before the tournament.
The victory means Zairul now has four wins and three losses from seven professional bouts, and marks his first-ever TKO victory in his career.
He also described Mohammad Haikal as a boxer with good distance control and punch combinations, but believed the sustained pressure he applied made it difficult for his opponent to escape.
Zairul also expressed his gratitude to his parents, coach, friends and loved ones for their unwavering support throughout his career.
“I am very, very thankful to my parents for always supporting me, as well as my coach and my friends,” he said.
Looking ahead after the BAM Championship, Zairul said he would continue training and remain open to any offers to compete in either amateur or professional events.
“If there’s a call-up from any event – amateur or pro – I’ll take it,” he said.
