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Malta’s Daniel Zahra In His First Kickboxing Professional Debut Takes On Portugal’s Jose ‘Bogas’ De Oliveira

By Sandro Micallef

Malta 6th December, 2011

Wednesday night 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.
Details of this event were given at a very well organised Press Conference organised by Gladiators promoters that was held 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 is recognised within the 140 WKN member countries.

Gladiators promoter Isaac Chetcuti said that it was very hard to organise this event due to the fact that when he and his colleague Noel Mercieca were approaching companies to support them financially they used to face a stumble block due to the negative view that has been in the past in relation with combat sports. He added that he is relieved that recently the attitude towards this sport is changing.

Master Noel Mercieca woh has been raining Daniel Zahra for the past months said “I am very happy with Daniels’s commitment and I am looking forward for the fight. I am sure we will do well”
Mercieca said that both Daniel and himself decided to take leave from work to be able to embark and immerse themselves in a full month of training 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 whilst I was neglected special leave. I tried to ask assistance on this matter from the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport but to no avail. My Club Ying Yang is affiliated with the KMS but 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.
Daniel “The Jet” Zahra spoke about his chances for Wednesday’s professional debut fight. Zahra said that his training sessions were very intense and is hopeful that he can win against Jose’ Bogas de Oliveira.
“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” added “The Jet”

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SCOTT QUIGG is to be trained by Joe Gallagher, and  will start working under his guidance from Monday

UK – Friday, September 2

The WBA intercontinental super-bantamweight champion had been trained by Pat Barrett after his long time guru Brian Hughes retired earlier this year.

Quigg, 22, said: “There were no problems with Pat but it got to a point that I had been at the Collyhurst gym so long I went stale.

“I was the only professional fighter in the gym training regularly.

“When I first went there Michael Jennings, Thomas McDonagh, Matthew Hall, Tony Doherty and Gary Lockett trained alongside me and every day was a competition.

“I have had a couple of days with Joe, but will be full on from next week and I am buzzing.

“The big plus is the sparring and training alongside top fighters like Anthony Crolla, Joe Murray, Paul Smith, Liam Smith, Stephen Smith and top class amateurs.

“There has been no competition for me in the gym, but this is just what I need.”

Quigg has won all 22 professional contests and ranked at number three for WBA champion Rico Ramos’ world crown.

But first the Bury battler wants to prove he is the best on home soil and challenges British champion Jason Booth on October 22.

Gallagher added: “It is exciting to train someone like Scott not just because of his potential, but because so many people rate him highly.

“He has been with a great stable and it came out of the blue, but I am honoured that he has asked me to further his career.

“The Booth fight is a big challenge, but he has fantastic sparring for that fight with men like Stephen Smith.”

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