Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships

The Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships was held in Kuching
The Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships is the biggest national boxing event of the Southeast Asian country which was held between September 14 and 20. The city of Kuching hosted the event which is capital of the Sarawak Province of Malaysia and located in the Northern part of the island of Borneo.
Sarawak Amateur Boxing Association and the President of the regional boxing organisation Datuk Rahman Lariwoo worked hard to realize the biggest Malaysian event of the year. Malaysian Amateur Boxing Federation, Sarawak Sports Council and First Infantry Division of the Royal Malaysian Army also supported the local association before and during the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships.
The Vice-President of the Malaysian Amateur Boxing Federation Mr. Wan Abdul Hamid organised national level examination for Referees & Judges during the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships. The competition was held in nine weight classes: 49 kg, 52 kg, 56 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg, 81 kg and 91 kg.
Kubah Ria Complex was the venue of the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships in Kuching where 20 local Sarawak boxers attended in the event. Altogether 89 men elite athletes took part in the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships from 13 teams including the national squad and the Royal Malaysian Army.
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Muhammad Fuad Bin Mohamed Redzuan is member of the national team since 2009 and took part in the last editions of the AIBA World Boxing Championships, Southeast Asian Games and several other events. The Malaysian No.1 claimed the first gold medal of the Golden Gloves Championships where he was too strong for Bumbung Ak Budam in the final of the Light Flyweight class (49 kg).
Commonwealth Games competitor Jayaraman Selvakumar did a small surprise in the second final of the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships. He defeated national team member 19-year-old Mohamed Azuwan Mohamed Nor in the final of the Flyweight class (52 kg) winning the bout by split decision while Johor’s Agong Cup bronze medallist Mohamad Firdaus Mohamad secured bronze medal in Kuching.
Mohamed Adli Tajuddin is newcomer in the Bantamweight class (56 kg) but he was able to beat Sarawak’s As Sufi in a quick bout when the referee stopped the contest in the first round. Agong Cup bronze medallist Mohamed Alnazirul Othman is a national team member boxer who walked over to the gold as his opponent Malaysian National Games silver medallist Muhamad Ridzuan Bin Wan Aziz could not fight against him in the final of the Lightweight class (60 kg) in Kuching.
Malaysia’s second top athlete besides to Muhammad Fuad Bin Mohamed Redzuan is 23-year-old Khir Akyazlan Bin Azmi who has been competing in the international level also since 2009. The strong Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer demonstrated his power against Andrew Laba in the gold medal bout of the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships.
Veteran Eswaran Murali defeated Zainuddin Abd Rahman in the final of the Welterweight class (69 kg) while two-time Malaysian National Games winner Mohamed Khairol Bin Kalai claimed only a bronze medal in Kuching. Southeast Asian Games competitor Rudy Petrus of Sabah was too strong for Indran Ramakrishnan at the Middleweight class (75 kg) final.
Shamir Naim Johny secured the eighth gold medal of the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships following his close victory over Muhamad Alieshah Bin Mohamed Kamaryzaman in the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg). Sarawak’s Stephen Onn secured the last gold medal of the event who triumph over Commonwealth Games competitor Mohamed Meeraj Bin Faizal Omar at the Heavyweight class (91 kg).
Winners in the Malaysian Golden Gloves Championships
49 kg: Muhammad Fuad Bin Mohamed Redzuan
52 kg: Jayaraman Selvakumar
56 kg: Mohamed Adli Tajuddin
60 kg: Mohamed Alnazirul Othman
64 kg: Khir Akyazlan Bin Azmi
69 kg: Eswaran Murali
75 kg: Rudy Petrus
81 kg: Shamir Naim Johny
91 kg: Stephen Onn