Local boxers to raise funds for charity
Local boxers to raise funds for Parkinson's Society Singapore
Boxing for a good cause.
That's what Ridhwan Ahmad and fellow local professional boxers intend to do at a Singapore Fighting Championship (SFC) event at the Ground Theatre at *Scape in Orchard this evening.
Dubbed "Singapore versus Philippines", the event will pit 28-year-old Ridhwan and two other top local boxers - Rafi Majid and Nurshahidah Roslie - against fighters from the Philippines.
Each ticket to the event, which begins at 6.30pm, costs $25, with $5 going to Parkinson's Society Singapore (PSS).
Ridhwan, a three-time South-east Asia (SEA) Games bronze medallist, will take on Jonel Borbon.
Late bloomer Rafi, who made his professional debut only this year at the age of 36, will take on Arnold Garcia.
Shahidah, who is Singapore's first female pro boxer and won the Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) Female Intercontinental super-featherweight title two months ago, will take on Krisna Limbaga.
SFC promoter Arvind Lalwani said: "What we want people to know is that people with Parkinson's can try out boxing or kickboxing to help them regain their motor skills.
"As for the money going to PSS, at the end of the day, we're not out to make money.
"My goal from this event is still the same as with all SFC events - to promote local boxing, and in this case, WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) kickboxing."
Added Ridhwan: "It's great to use boxing as a platform to create positive awareness for Parkinson's.
"I could never imagine what Parkinson's sufferers have to go through, but this is a small way for me to give back.
"Fights always become more meaningful when we fight for something bigger than just ourselves."
In addition to the three local pro boxers, former Ultimate Fighting Championship figher Will "The Kill" Chope will make his pro boxing debut.
The American, who is based in Singapore, will face Filipino Gilbert Donasales, who has 16 fights under his belt.
The card will also feature two K1 kickboxing fights, with Terrence Teo and Tiffany Teo featuring.
With no titles on the line, Lalwani says this event is a good tune-up for Terrence, who will represent Singapore at the Asian Kickboxing Championships in South Korea next month.
He added that if all three local pro boxers can continue to keep their good momentum - each undefeated in three pro bouts - they might find themselves in the mix for a regional World Boxing Organisation (WBO) or World Boxing Association (WBA) titles within six months.
Ridhwan, however, has one eye on a specific opponent in the near future.
"I heard Nor Rizan wants to make a comeback," he said, referring to the 35-year-old, who boxed six times professionally with the last bout at Marina Bay Sands in 2012.
"It will be great for local boxing fans if we fight each other.
"He has a huge following so hopefully, a fight between us can give local boxing the attention it needs.
"There have been talks between our promoters and I feel the best should fight the best.
"On social media, he calls himself 'world champ' and his fans call him 'world champ', so I want to fight this 'world champ'."
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