KUALA LUMPUR: Young Malaysian Muaythai exponent Muhammad Mikail Ghazali Zulfikar is ready to go where his elder brother, Muhammad Johan ‘Jojo’ Ghazali Zulfikar, refused to tread.
Muhammad Mikail, the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) gold medallist nicknamed ‘Miki’, said he is ready to fight for a spot to compete in the Dec 9-20 Thailand SEA Games.
“Of course, I want (to compete in the SEA Games if given a chance). Who doesn’t want to (represent the country in the SEA Games)? But, so far, there has been no selection or call-up from the association regarding this,” Miki, 16, told Bernama today.
The media had previously quoted Jojo, 18, as saying that he intends to focus fully on the ONE Championship, thus rejecting the opportunity to represent the country in the SEA Games.
Jojo stressed that his decision was made to pave the way for other young and talented exponents to go to the biennial Games.
It is no surprise, however, to learn that Miki also intends to follow in his older brother’s footsteps by venturing into the ONE Championship one day.
The youngster was quick to admit that, although making the step up to the ONE Championship will not be an easy one, it won’t deter him from working as hard as he can to achieve his goal.
“Yes, I am focused on joining the ONE Championship. So, now I am just taking it one bout at a time to show the people (at ONE Championship) my skill and talent.
“I hope that in the next year or two, I will be able to fight at the ONE Championship together with my brother,” said Miki, who harbours hopes of fighting in the strawweight (56.7-kilogramme) category.
Asked about his current plans, Miki said he is gearing up for the 2025 Wilayah Pahlawan International Muaythai Championships at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur on Feb 22.
Miki added that he is currently training at the Rentap Muaythai Gym in Kuching and would occasionally go to Thailand to work out at the Superbon Training Camp in Bangkok ahead of major tournaments.
— BERNAMA
