PUTATAN: July 18, 2026 – Terengganu-born boxer Mohd Sukandar Zakri made a stunning start to his professional career, securing a knockout (KO) victory in just 30 seconds at the BAM Championship held at Dewan Sri Putatan on Saturday evening.
The emphatic win came as a surprise even to Sukandar himself, who had entered the bout aiming to last at least three or four rounds in order to gain as much experience as possible on the professional stage.
“I never expected to win by KO so quickly. My original intention was to last longer, because this is my first fight – I wanted to experience what the real contest feels like,” he said when speaking to reporters after the bout.
However, the 34-year-old boxer acknowledged there was room for improvement, particularly in terms of stamina, though he was full of praise for the spirit shown by his opponent throughout the contest.
Sukandar’s preparation for his debut was undertaken independently – without a permanent coach – with a rigorous training routine fitted around his working hours.
“Before this, I trained in a camp environment, but now I train on my own. After work, I go for training in the evening. In the morning, I go for a short run before heading to work, and then I continue training again at night,” he explained.
He described the debut victory as a motivational boost to continue refining his skills and consistency in the sport of boxing.
Sukandar also expressed his hope for future opportunities to compete. “God willing, if anyone calls upon me again, I will step into the ring and fight,” he added.
He urged young athletes pursuing boxing not to lose heart in chasing their ambitions, stressing the importance of discipline and perseverance – even when having to balance work commitments with training.
The BAM Championship in Putatan attracted boxers from across the country, and Sukandar’s lightning-fast victory proved to be one of the standout moments of the opening night.
