By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 13: Muaythai athlete Muhammad Hasbullah Mood from Kampung Sadong Jaya successfully defended his national Bantamweight title after defeating Muhd Khairul Aizat Samsool—better known as Apizat of Keris Gym—with a technical knockout (TKO) in the fifth round at the Rentap Fighting Championship 2025 held last night (July 12).
Representing DMT X Rentap X Phoenix Meranek Gym, Hasbullah entered the ring in the red corner, while challenger Apizat entered the blue corner under the Keris banner.
The high-stakes bout began with the traditional wai khru ritual, performed as a mark of respect to coaches, the sport and its heritage.
In the opening round, Hasbullah got off to a strong start, earning 10 points against Apizat’s 9.
Although the scores for rounds two to four were not publicly announced, the bout reached its dramatic climax in the fifth round when the referee was forced to stop the match, declaring Hasbullah the victor via TKO.
The national title match was among the main attractions of the night, showcasing top-tier talent in Malaysia’s Muaythai scene. Hasbullah’s victory not only secured his hold on the national Bantamweight belt but also brought pride to his hometown and Sarawak as a whole.
The prize presentation was officiated by WBC Malaysia Committee chairman, SAC Zulfikar bin Jen (B) Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali.
Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development (Infrastructure Development) and Sadong Jaya assemblyman Datuk Aidel Lariwoo shared his pride on Facebook after the match, posting: “Just now, Sadong Jaya’s own Hasbullah, won by TKO in the 5th round of the [Rentap Fighting Championship] held in Kuching… Alhamdulillah.”
For the record, Hasbullah made history during the 2024 edition of the championship by becoming the first Sarawakian fighter to win the WBC MuayThai Malaysia Men’s Bantamweight title after defeating Amirul from Penang.
Meanwhile, in the headline match, Elias Ghazali of Malaysia representing Rentap Muay Thai Gym emerged victorious against Germany’s Marcel Niebur of Manasak Muay Thai Gym in the 61kg main event category.
In the 63kg co-main event, Thailand’s Petchsila from Rentap Muay Thai Gym defeated Malaysia’s Ali Yaakob of Ali Yaakob Muay Thai Gym, further solidifying Rentap’s dominance in the championship.
Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu was also present during the main event, lending strong support to the growth of combat sports in Sarawak. – DayakDaily
