Interview with Singapore’s new talent Muhammad Hafiz Bin Ahmad
Singapore’s new national team member 25-year-old Muhammad Hafiz Bin Ahmad will be there at the lightweight (60kg) in the start of the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Tashkent and he is hoping to raise his international experiences in the Uzbek capital.
The Singaporean boxer trains with their President and national boxing icon Mr. Syed Abdul Kadir in the country. His elder brother Muhammad Ridhwan Bin Ahmad is a well known professional boxer not only in Singapore but in the whole Southeast Asian region who showed the way of boxing to Muhammad Hafiz.
– What is your opinion about Singapore’s current boxing life?
– Singapore’s boxing life has definitely improved in the recent years given more competitions. Tha standard has rise to another level and I like how everyone is more competitive today. We are also given more exposure to more international tournaments to know where we stand so that we can work even harder for the next one and achieve the results we wanted.
– When did you began your boxing career? How many bouts do you have in total?
– I have been boxing for close to seven years and have 26 bouts up till date. I picked up boxing at 19 which some may consider late.
– What was the reason you decided to choose boxing? Who was the most influential person in the beginning of your career?
– The first time I decided to put on the gloves was after watching my elder brother, Muhammad Ridhwan whom back then amateur boxing in a tournament. Currently he is still boxing professionally, undefeated, won the WBA super featherweight title and more importantly he is an inspiration to many boxers. Muhammad Ridhwan is the most influential person in my career. He has good composure in the ring to emphasize a lot on the jab that it became ma favourite punch. He has plenty of experience in the modern boxing world and when in doubt he is the best person to talk things to.
– Who is your current coach in Singapore and could you please tell us something about your training sessions?
– My current coach is Mr. Syed Abdul Kadir who is the President in the national federation and the most successful boxer of the country’s history. He is a great mentor who focus a lot on getting the fundamentals right, and he always have lots of faith in the team. I train twice a day and vary the training programs in between. It can consist of technical boxing training, sparring on alternate days and strength and conditioning twice a week.
– What is your biggest strength in the ring?
– My biggest strength in the ring would be my jab. With the jab I am able to find my range, observe how my opponents react and work behind the jab to set up combinations. The jab is also one of the easier punches to go to the body.
– Who is your boxing idol?
– My boxing idol is former Olympic Champion US boxer Andre Ward. He is not just an intelligent boxer with good ring IQ but he has got the heart of a champion to rise up when he is being knocked down. Outside of the ring he is a true gentleman and a great family man.
– What do you expect in the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Tashkent?
– I expect to compete against the bests in Asia and be a surprise in the championships.
– What do you think about the Asian spirit in the boxing tournaments?
– I feel Asians are competitive and mentally strong given that some of the Asian countries live in tough conditions. With the tough living conditions some may want to win championships and even more. Some people rely a lot on their strong mentality to win fights and some rely on their ring smarts to win fights. Boxing is an interesting sport and I feel we are a big family.
– What is your main goal in the sport as elite boxer?
– My future goal is to be able to win the gold medal for Singapore in the Southeast Asian Games and to compete in the next Asian Games. Once I am reaching my target I will be ready to take on the AIBA World Boxing Championships.