Zahra beats Jama on points in K1 bout

Daniel Zahra recently became the first Maltese kickboxer to win a K1 title after beating Mohamed Jama in a four-round match. The bout was presided over by Adrian Axisa, founder of the Maltese Kickboxing Association and the World Kickboxing Network (WKN).

Holland-based Jama, with a record of 27 wins and holder of Euro and world titles, is a semi-professional Class B Thai boxer. However, Zahra, of the Ying Yang Club, was equal to his opponent as he maintained his momentum following his fine showings in the Kickboxing World Cup held in Malta last September.

For the Zahra-Jama match, K1 rules, where no leg protection is worn and the athletes are allowed to use knee techniques, were applied.

Jama tried to make full use of his height advantage but Zahra attacked with hand and leg techniques. On more than one occasion, the Maltese kickboxer put his opponent under pressure with his spinning kicks.

The match was evenly balanced but in the end, victory was awarded to Zahra on points. He has now collected three WKN title belts, all attained under the guidance of Noel Mercieca who has been responsible for Zahra's training for the past 10 years.

Mercieca, founder of the Ying Yang Club, has been grooming his athletes for international competitions.

In 2007, Reuben Azzopardi became the first Maltese to represent the country in a WKN competition and last year Ying Yang Club martial artists left a very good impression in the Kickboxing World Cup.