PUTATAN: July 18 2026 – Young Sabah boxer Muhammad Khairul Ikhwan caused a sensation after securing victory on his professional debut, defeating a more experienced opponent at the BAM Championship at Dewan Sri Putatan on Saturday.
Khairul described the win as one of the biggest achievements of his career, having succeeded at the age of 16 against a boxer who had already fought several times on the professional circuit.
According to him, the contest did not unfold as expected, as the tempo was more aggressive than his original game plan, which had been more focused on technical execution.
“What I managed to do was land the left body shot that my coach had told me to practise beforehand – and thankfully it came off in the fight,” he said.
Commenting on his opponent’s performance, Khairul described the bout as the most challenging of his career to date, having faced a boxer with a strong fighting spirit.
“He is no ordinary fighter – he has real heart, he is strong and he does not give up easily,” he added.
He also expressed his gratitude to his parents, his coach and his sponsor for their unwavering support throughout his preparation, which culminated in victory on his professional debut.
Following the win, Khairul said he hopes to continue building his career in professional boxing despite his young age, and also wants to serve as an inspiration to athletes of his age to dare to challenge themselves.
“Many 16-year-old athletes like me may be hesitant to step up to the professional level because the challenge is great – but if I can do it, so can they,” he said.
