It the recent fights held in Langkawi over the weekend Zeri won his fight with an early KO in the first round. Koro on the other hand a full went 5 rounds to a no win draw.
Follow the Progress of our Muaythai Fighters
Bob faced his opponent in Chaweng Stadium without his team mates as they were busy attending to Ali and other fight matters in UK and KL. But fortunately for this Team Tigers member, we have made many good friends amongst the trainers and fighters at WMC Camp Lamai. Amongst them are Madsue, Runchai and Carly who took care of Bob during his fight. They even treated him to a movie the next day.
Kuala Lumpur, 22 June 2009 – Contender Asia fans, your favourite Muay Thai reality show will be filmed and produced right here in Malaysia from July to August. At the Contender Asia Season 2 Media Conference today, Tourism Minister Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen congratulated the Osys Group for bringing the USD7 million Hollywood reality TV series to Malaysia. Osys won the much coveted bid against other keen parties such as the USA, Macau, Australia, Thailand and Singapore (who hosted the first season of Contender Asia).
“We see this as an excellent collaboration between the private sector and the Government to promote Malaysia to the world,” said Dr. Ng. “As the host country, we would ensure that the production crew and contestants experience the best of Malaysia’s authentic hospitality. We will also avail our tourism council teams to be at the production team’s beck and call to reduce any red tapes and bureaucracy.”
Mr. Riaz Mehta, Executive Producer of Contender Asia 2and President of Imagine OmniMedia Pte Ltd stated that the continued exposure and promotion of Malaysia with every airing of contender Asia 2 would be worth over USD100 million in media and PR value. The hugely popular and successful Emmy Award nominee Contender Asia Season One was aired in prime time in over 40 countries including the USA, UK, Australia and Asia.
“With Mark Burnet helming the project as producer and being supported by a stellar group of cast and crew, Contender Asia 2 promises to top Season One in terms of quality and a higher calibre of contestants ever seen before on TV,” Mehta added. The illustrious crew include award-winning lighting expert Michael Koepke of Iron Man 1 & 2, and Survivor fame; and award-winning art director Brian Edmonds of Wolverine.
Sixteen of the best Muay Thai fighters from 14 different nations (including 2 from Malaysia) will compete to be the last man standing and earn the Contender title. The fighters will move into the Contender House in the beginning of July and be divided into two groups. Each week, the fighters and their personal dramas as they live and work with each other will be filmed, leading up to the adrenaline pumping elimination face-off in the ring.
Contender Asia will be hosted by local celebrity Marion Caunter and Stephan Fox, the International Co-ordinator and Vice President of the World Muay Thai Council. The 15-episode Contender Asia Season 2 is scheduled to debut on AXN this October.
It won’t all be fighting and personal drama though. The fighters will also be filmed enjoying the beauty and hospitality at the numerous attractions of Malaysia throughout its 40 days of filming such as Mulu Caves, Langkawi, Kellie’s Castle, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu, Lata Jarum in Pahang, Batu Caves and homestays in Selangor, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and a dinner cruise at Putrajaya.
“I am confident that the tremendous publicity that can be generated by Contender Asia Season 2 will help raise awareness of all that Malaysia has to offer and to entice foreign tourists to visit our country and consider participating in our Malaysia My Second Home program,” Dr. Ng concluded.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen showing off the ‘Contender Asia’ championship belt. With her are (from left) Malaysian Muay Thai fighter Bernard Radin, ‘Contender Asia 2’ executive producer Riaz Mehta, Osys group of companies managing director Muhd Shahnaz Azmi, World Muay Thai Council vice-president and show host Stephan Fox and Malaysian fighter Faizal Ramli. |
KUALA LUMPUR: Muay Thai kickboxing reality show Contender Asia will serve as the Tourism Ministry's single biggest channel to promote Malaysia's exotic locations until the end of the year.
Program realiti yang menjadikan Singapura lokasi penggambaran pertama tahun lalu itu akan membawa peserta ke 11 lokasi di negara ini iaitu di Gua Mulu, Pulau Langkawi, A Famosa Melaka, Batu Caves, Terengganu, Pulau Pinang, Istana Kellie di Perak.
Menteri Pelancongan, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen berkata, The Contender Asia itu dilihat mampu mempromosikan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pelancongan berikutan program realiti yang diperkenalkan tahun lalu itu dijangka ditontoni 1.2 bilion penonton di seluruh dunia.
Tuesday June 23, 2009

WMC MUAYTHAI AGAINST DRUGS WORLD CHALLENGE


Ali will be leaving for the UK this Thursday for his big fight against Andy Howson of Bad Company UK for the WMC Muaythai against Drugs World Title.
Our Malaysian Tiger, Ismail Ramli on the other hand will be fighting Azizi, Kuda Merah. This match will see a relatively new fighter, Mail against a more experienced fighter Azizi from the PDRM. This will prove an interesting fight to watch. So all of you in the vicinity of Stadium Titiwangsa on Saturday the 13th around 8pm. Don't forget to catch Mail and Azizi in action. There are sure to be some more interesting fights to catch so come along and give a little support to our youngest Tiger!


December 5

February 7/8- Boxxwarriors Event in Cheras- Faizal beat Abbas Ahmadi, Zeri beat Iddi Selindang Kuning and Hamdan is defeated by Tengku Shahrizal.




Ditanya perasaannya sebagai anak Malaysia pertama yang bakal menyertai program TCA2, Faizal berkata, dia sangat teruja dan bersemangat untuk mengharumkan nama Malaysia, sekali gus membuktikan peninju tomoi kita sama hebat dengan jaguh negara lain, termasuk Thailand.
"Bagi saya, peninju tomoi kita kini sama taraf dengan peninju luar, termasuk Thailand. Memang mereka (peninju Thailand) diberi lebih banyak pendedahan kerana dilatih sejak kecil.
"Bagaimanapun, peninju kita juga ada kelebihan tersendiri. Hasil pembabitan saya dalam kejohanan di luar negara, secara keseluruhan peminat dan peninju tomoi dari serata dunia kini menggeruni dan mengakui kehebatan peninju kita," katanya.
Menceritakan sejarah pembabitannya dalam sukan tomoi, Faizal berkata, pada awalnya dia bercita-cita menjadi pemain bola sepak profesional.
Namun, minatnya bertukar kepada sukan tomoi selepas ayahnya, Ramli Yusuff, 48, yang juga bekas juara tomoi era 1980-an membawanya menonton satu perlawanan tomoi di Rantau Panjang, Kelantan.
Pada awalnya, Faizal menyimpan wang saku sekolahnya untuk membeli cakera padat video (VCD) perihal latihan asas sukan tomoi dan menontonnya di rumah rakan.
Ini kerana pada ketika itu ibunya, Faridah Ishak, 40, tidak merestui dia mengikut jejak ayahnya berikutan sukan itu dianggap bahaya.
Sampai satu peringkat, Faizal tidak puas hanya berlatih dengan menonton VCD, lalu dia berguru dengan sifu tomoi, Mohd Isa Sulaiman, 59, yang secara kebetulan membuka kelab tomoi dikenali sebagai 'Black Tiger' di kampungnya.
"Saya memperuntukkan masa dua jam sehari untuk belajar tomoi, termasuk 'jogging' mengelilingi kampung sejauh 10 kilometer, selain melakukan senaman menguatkan otot dan tumbukan angin sebanyak 100 kali sehari," katanya.
Faizal berkata, selepas menguasai latihan asas, dia diajar melakukan tumbukan dan hentakan siku terhadap guni berisi pasir kasar seberat 100 kilogram (kg) sebanyak 500 kali sehari.
Namun, paling memeritkannya ialah latihan menguatkan bahagian keting (tulang kering) dan betis apabila dia diminta Mohd Isa melakukan sepakan terhadap sebatang tiang bulat sebanyak 200 kali sehari.
"Akibatnya, keting saya bengkak dan ibu pula nampak. Namun bila ibu tanya, saya beri alasan jatuh kerana bermain bola sepak.
"Saya bukan sengaja berbohong atau hendak menderhaka kepada ibu, tetapi terpaksa berbuat demikian kerana minat yang terlalu mendalam terhadap sukan tomoi.
"Yang seronoknya, ayah tidak melarang, sebaliknya memberitahu, jika saya betul-betul berminat dengan tomoi, jangan berhenti separuh jalan tapi perlu teruskan sehingga sampai ke puncak," katanya.
Selain Faizal, abang, Suhaimi, 22, dan adiknya, Mohd Faizul, 17, turut terbabit dalam permainan sukan tomoi, namun pembabitan mereka berdua masih di peringkat awal.
Faizal berkata, tomoi ada kaitan rapat dengan sukan tinju, namun bezanya ialah tomoi membenarkan penggunaan kaki, lutut dan siku manakala tinju hanya menggunakan tumbukan.
Kejohanan pertama yang disertai Faizal ialah ketika berusia 15 tahun selepas selesai menduduki Peperiksaan Menengah Rendah (PMR).
"Namun, saya sembunyikan perkara itu daripada ibu. Agak mengejutkan kerana saya jadi juara walaupun berdepan lawan lebih berpengalaman. Kejayaan pertama itu sungguh bermakna buat diri saya.
"Ia menambah pengalaman saya dan mengajar saya mengawal ketahanan mental. Bila ada dalam gelanggang, anak muay (tomoi) perlu mengawal marah dan patuh setiap peraturan," katanya.
Menjelang TCA 2, Faizal kini giat menjalani latihan bersama rakan sepasukannya, Bernard 'Headhunter' Radin, 37, dari Sarawak di Gymnasium Lamai di Koh Samui, Thailand, selama sebulan.
Penerbit Eksekutif TCA, Riaz Mehta, berkata rancangan realiti musim kedua itu lebih menarik untuk tatapan rakyat Malaysia kerana ia bukan saja memiliki wakil Malaysia, tapi negara kita menjadi tuan rumah dan tempat penggambaran bermula Jun depan hingga perlawanan akhir pada Januari 2010.
"Pemilihan Malaysia sebagai tuan rumah kepada siri popular yang disaksikan oleh 500 juta penonton dari 40 buah negara ini adalah kerana landskap sesuai untuk latihan serta jumlah peminat seni tomoi yang ramai di negara ini.
"Kita jangka, musim kedua TCA akan ditonton lebih 1.2 bilion penonton kerana ia akan disiarkan ke 50 negara melalui siaran AXN," katanya sambil memaklumkan, 18 peserta dari 17 negara akan bertanding merebut wang tunai RM1 juta.
Profil
NAMA: Mohd Faizal Ramli
LAHIR: 24 Oktober 1989 di Pasir Puteh, Kelantan
KERJAYA: Peninju Muay Thai (tomoi)
KELAB: The Black Tiger Gong Kua, Pasir Puteh (2001 hingga November 2008); Malaysian Tigers Muay Thai Club, Kuala Lumpur (Disember 2008 hingga kini)
PENCAPAIAN: Sebanyak 30 penyertaan dengan 30 kemenangan tanpa kalah dan seri (2005-2009); Juara World Muay Thai Championship (WMC) di Bangkok, Thailand (2009); Juara Kejohanan Tomoi Super Eight Contender Asia (2009); pingat emas Sukan Arafura di Darwin, Australia (2009); Juara Muay Thai Ultimate Warrior Malaysia (2005, 2006 dan 2008)
Malaysia the Surprise Team at Arafura Games
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Malaysia hasn’t been known as a powerhouse in the sport of Muaythai but this changed at this year’s Arafura Games. The Malaysian National team was the surprise package of the competition surprising spectators with outstanding results and sportsmanship. The team won two gold medals, one silver, two Bronze and earned an award for being the most improved muaythai team.
Even the Australian team captain had to bow down to Malaysia in the Final after losing a point decision in front of a packed stadium on Thursday night. Malaysia has a great future in the sport and the world has taken note of the Malaysian Tigers.

Our next show will feature:
Andy Howson (Bad Company) v Mohd Ali Yaakub (Malaysia)