This evening will be a special night for Malta’s first professional kick boxer Daniel “The Jet” Zahra as he will be making his debut as a professional fighter in a WKN Light Middle Weight European title fight against Portuguese kick boxer Jose’ Bogas de Oliveira.
Details of this event were given yesterday by Gladiators promoters at the Fortina Hotel in Sliema.
Anchor and WKN representative in Malta Adrian Axisa gave details about the main event and also about the supporting bouts prior to the main event which will be held at the MFCC Ta’ Qali.
Axisa said that although there were some WKN approved events organised in Malta in the past this will be the very first professional event. He explained that Malta should be proud that it is recognised within the 140 WKN member countries.
Gladiators promoter Isaac Chetcuti said that it was vey hard to organise this event due to the fact that whenever he and his colleague Noel Mercieca were approaching companies to financially support them they used to face a stumbling block due to the negative view that there has been in the past in relation with combat sports.
He added that he is relieved that the attitude towards this sport is now changing.
Master Noel Mercieca who has been training Daniel Zahra for the past months said “I am very happy with Daniel’s commitment and I am looking forward for the fight. I am sure we will do well,” he said.
Mercieca said both Daniel and himself decided to take leave from work to be able to embark on a programme of training for one whole month which consisted of three sessions per day.
When asked by maltaboxingnews.net what were his plans for the possibility of having more professional kick boxers in the future, Mercieca replied: “We are facing many difficulties due to financial constraints. Just imagine that Daniel had to take unpaid leave from his workplace while I was denied special leave. I tried to ask for assistance on this matter from the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport (KMS) but to no avail. My club Ying Yang is affiliated with the KMS but unfortunately we had no help at all from them,” added a disappointed Mercieca.
Master Mercieca remarked that ironically the civil service gives assistance in the form of special leave to athletes and coaches when these are to participate in overseas international events.
But in the case that a similar international event is held in Malta no assistance is granted.
When speaking about his chances for tonight’s professional debut fight, Daniel ‘The Jet’ Zahra said that his training sessions were very intense and that he is hopeful of a win against the Portuguese fighter.
“I am very excited and happy that with the help of Isaac and Noel, I have now turned professional. I hope that next year I will be again in the professional scene and plan to have more pro fights,” he added.