Hazman ‘The Zombie’ Siew Captures OPBF-WBC Silver Crown in Sabah, Thanks European Wellness for Support

KOTA KINABALU, July 18 — Malaysian boxer Hazman Iskandar Zulkifli Siew created a memorable chapter in his career after stopping India’s Kuldeep Tarkar in the eighth round to capture the OPBF-WBC Silver Featherweight Championship at the BAM Championship Fight Night at Dewan Sri Putatan on Friday.

Known in the ring as “The Zombie”, Hazman secured the victory at 1 minute 37 seconds of Round Eight, bringing an emphatic conclusion to the headline contest after steadily applying pressure through the earlier rounds.

The victory was especially significant for Hazman, whose mother is from Tawau and who spent part of his childhood in Sabah. It was also his first professional appearance in Malaysia after previously competing largely overseas, including in Bangkok.

Before the fight, Hazman entered the contest with seven professional victories against one defeat and had already captured the WBA Asia South Featherweight title in 2026, in addition to winning gold at Sukma 2024. (TV Sabah | News Portals)

‘We Train Hard’

Speaking in the ring after being presented with his new championship belt, Hazman credited the intensity of his preparation and the people behind him for carrying him through eight demanding rounds.

Asked whether fatigue had begun to affect him late in the contest, Hazman said his training had prepared him to maintain his intensity.

“We train hard,”

Hazman said, explaining that his coach regularly pushed him through training sessions far beyond the duration he ultimately needed in the championship bout.

The preparation showed as the contest progressed. Hazman continued pressing forward, working to force Tarkar towards the ropes before eventually securing the stoppage in Round Eight.

Independent post-fight reporting also recorded Hazman’s eighth-round victory and his capture of the OPBF-WBC Silver Featherweight Championship. (Facebook)

European Wellness Among Those Hazman Thanked After Historic Win

One of the most significant moments for European Wellness came immediately after the victory, when Hazman publicly acknowledged the organizations and people who had supported his journey.

With the championship belt secured, he specifically thanked European Wellness for sponsoring him, alongside his team, family, and other supporters who had helped him prepare for the contest.

The acknowledgement gave added significance to European Wellness’ presence at BAM Championship 2026.

Its involvement was not confined to branding around the arena. The championship came immediately after the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding between Kelab Tinju Profesional Kinabalu (KTPK) and the European Wellness Sports Science Regenerative Centre (EW-SSRC), aimed at strengthening athlete development, sports medicine, and recovery support in Sabah. (TV Sabah | News Portals)

For European Wellness, Hazman’s championship success also reinforces its expanding involvement in combat sports following its earlier participation at Twins Championship 104, where athletes associated with its sports science and recovery programs also achieved competitive success.

The BAM Championship, therefore, represents another milestone in that journey—with a supported athlete emerging from a separate tournament carrying a major championship belt.

‘I Believe One Day I Will Be a World Champion’

Hazman was already looking beyond Friday’s victory moments after winning his new title.

Asked what audiences could expect next, he spoke confidently about his ambition to reach the highest level of professional boxing.

“I believe that one day I will be a world champion,” he said, while stressing that his team, corner, family, and sponsors remained fundamental to that journey.

The victory carried additional emotion because of where it happened.

Hazman described the opportunity to win the title in Sabah as an honor, thanking BAM Championship and those who gave him the opportunity to compete for what he described as an important Asian championship belt in a place he considers part of his roots.

Before the contest, Hazman had spoken publicly about regularly returning to Tawau to visit his grandmother and about the special meaning of competing before family and supporters in Sabah. (TV Sabah | News Portals)

Fight Night Brings Professional Boxing Into the Spotlight

The title fight headlined an energetic evening at Dewan Sri Putatan, where fighters competed beneath bright arena lights before spectators, sporting representatives, teams, and supporters.

The program began with preliminary bouts, while the main fight-night program followed in the evening. Portions of the championship were also made available through TV Sabah’s digital platforms, extending its audience beyond those inside the venue. (Facebook)

The championship featured athletes connected to several parts of Sabah, with organizers earlier reporting participation from Sandakan, Tongod, Tambunan, Penampang, and Kota Kinabalu. Fighters, coaches, and team managers had spent two to three months preparing for the competition. (TV Sabah | News Portals)

Photographs from the evening captured the intensity of the action—close-range exchanges, fighters pressing forward under the lights and victorious athletes celebrating inside the ring.

Sports Science Moves Closer to the Ring

European Wellness’ presence around the arena also highlighted a broader development taking place alongside the competition: the growing integration of sports science and athlete recovery into professional boxing.

A day before the fights, KTPK and EW-SSRC formalized their collaboration to provide greater access to sports-medicine expertise and recovery technologies.

KTPK Secretary Zairul Hijoo said the partnership could give Sabah athletes access to injury-recovery technology and sports-medicine expertise while helping improve training and competitive performance.

He also thanked the relevant Sabah authorities, the Sabah Sports Board, European Wellness, and the Malaysian Professional Boxing Federation for supporting the championship. (TV Sabah | News Portals)

A Second Competitive Milestone

For European Wellness, the result builds upon its previous involvement with combat sports athletes at Twins Championship 104.

It is about developing a broader athlete-support ecosystem in which training and coaching remain central, while sports science, recovery, and injury management help athletes cope with the physical demands of elite competition.

European Wellness Chairman Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan has long advocated a preventive and regenerative approach that focuses not only on responding to physical problems after they occur but also on supporting health, recovery, and sustained performance.

“For more than four decades, European Wellness has focused on helping people recover better, perform better, and enjoy a higher quality of life. Today, we are bringing that same philosophy into professional boxing,” he said.

And Hazman’s victory provided a highly visible moment for that growing relationship between sport and athlete care.