KOTA KINABALU: 18 July 2026 – Professional boxer Josephine Pui Yin admitted her disappointment at the draw verdict in her Minimumweight bout against Meredy Micheal at the BAM Championship at the Putatan Indoor Stadium on Saturday, but said she respected the judges’ decision.
Josephine said she believed she had done enough to secure victory, but accepted the outcome with an open heart and vowed to perform better in future fights.
“Honestly, it wasn’t the result I had hoped for, because I truly thought I won that fight. But if that is the judges’ decision, I respect it. Hopefully, in the future I will do better so that this kind of thing does not happen again,” she said.
She described the contest as a good challenge and said the training she had undergone in the Philippines had a positive impact on her performance in the ring.
According to Josephine, the fourth round was the most challenging moment, as she felt Meredy stepped up the pressure and tried to change the tempo of the fight.
In preparation for the BAM Championship, Josephine had only 14 days of training, and also had to lose four kilogrammes in weight before the bout.
However, she stressed that the short preparation period was no excuse, as every professional boxer must be ready to face all challenges and make sacrifices for the sport they love.
“As a boxer, things like this are not an excuse for us. We are made to go through all these struggles. The pain and the victory are all part of this game,” she said.
The bout against Meredy was Josephine’s second professional contest, following a defeat on her debut, leaving her professional record at one loss and one draw.
Josephine also praised Meredy’s performance, describing her as clever at controlling distance and possessing good punch combinations, and added that she hoped the Sabah boxer would continue to achieve success on the professional circuit.
“To my opponent, Meredy, I wish her all the best. Many Sabahans see Meredy as a star. I am not here to stop people from achieving their dreams. Everyone is chasing their own dreams,” she said.
She also expressed her appreciation to her supporters, family members, coach Antonio, friends and her sponsor for their constant support throughout her professional boxing career.
Josephine said she would continue training and has targeted a better position in the professional boxing rankings as a short-term goal, adding that she does not see age as a barrier to continuing in the sport.
“Age is not an excuse. In Malaysia, there are not many boxers, so that’s what motivates me to fight. My next goal is to continue training and hopefully, I will be promoted to a professional ranking. That’s my short but achievable goal,” she said.
With the experience gained at the BAM Championship, Josephine hopes to continue improving her weaknesses and to be more competitive in future competitions.
