KUCHING: It was a birthday to remember for Kabilan Jelevan, who marked the occasion with a thrilling victory over Kenyan fighter Dave in Bout 4 (62kg) at the Rentap Fighting Championship yesterday (Jan 18).
Held in Stadium Perpaduan , this triumph was Kabilan’s second birthday win, following his previous success at ONE Championship, where he defeated Sulaiman Looksuan.
Following his win against Dave, the muaythai fighter said: “I felt so blessed and proud of myself for winning on my birthday.
“This was my second time winning on my birthday, and I was just grateful for the opportunity.” he said.
The bout began cautiously, with both fighters showing mutual respect in the opening round, which set a measured pace. Kabilan acknowledged that the initial rounds were about understanding his opponent’s movements.
“In the first round, I was just trying to read his moves. But by the second round, I had a better grasp of his style and began to push more. That was when I found my rhythm and started landing more strikes,” Kabilan explained.
The intense exchanges in the second and third rounds ultimately led him securing the win, much to the delight of his supporters.
When asked about the prize money, Kabilan remained humble. “I don’t really focus on that. I am just happy with the win,” he said.
As the crowd erupted in celebration, Kabilan reflected on the significance of the victory — not just as a win, but as a testament to his hard work, discipline, and ongoing rise in the sport.
Meanwhile, the tournament also featured Miki Ghazali, the younger brother of Johan Ghazali, who earned his first victory in his boxing debut against Indonesian boxer Mustakim.
The Bantamweight National Champion match also attracted attention, with Sarawak’s Hasbullah being crowned champion after defeating Amirul of Penang.
The muaythai tournament took place from Jan 18 to 19.
