TWINS Championship 104 Brings Historic WBC Title Fight to Sabah, Backed by European Wellness Sports Regeneration Science

May 8, 2026
Events

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah (May 8, 2026) — Sabah’s combat sports scene reached a historic milestone on Friday as local boxing hero Khairul “King Azim” Hamdain and Indonesia’s Suryadi Tambunan came face-to-face during the official weigh-in and press conference ahead of the WBC Far East Featherweight Title showdown at Twins Championship 104.

The title clash, scheduled for Saturday night at Dewan Kebudayaan Penampang, marks the first-ever World Boxing Council (WBC)-sanctioned title fight to be staged in Sabah — a landmark moment organizers say could elevate the state’s profile within the regional combat sports industry.

Held at the European Wellness Premier Centre (EWPC) in Alamesra, the pre-fight press conference brought together fighters, coaches, promoters, media representatives, and supporters in an atmosphere charged with anticipation and regional pride.

The event was hosted by Twins Championship emcee and organizers, who described the promotion’s long-term vision as creating an international platform for Sabah and Southeast Asian fighters to reach the world stage.

“Twins Championship is not just about organizing fights,” the emcee said during the opening remarks.

“This is a long-term platform to help our fighters grow beyond the local scene. We want Sabah fighters and Southeast Asian fighters to reach the world stage and become superstars.”

The organizers also thanked European Wellness Biomedical Group and the European Wellness Premier Centre for hosting the official pre-fight proceedings, highlighting the growing intersection between sports performance, recovery science, and athlete longevity.

“Please look up European Wellness,” the emcee told attendees.

“Athletes, coaches, fighters — you should read about what they are doing in sports recovery, training support, and regenerative science.”

The collaboration between Twins Championship and European Wellness introduced a strong sports-science dimension to the event, shifting discussions beyond physical competition toward long-term athlete health, neurological resilience, stamina, and recovery.

Speaking before the fighters took the stage, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike K.S. Chan shared insights from decades of working with elite athletes, football clubs, martial artists, and international sports organizations.

“I have served many football players, including athletes connected with Arsenal and Real Madrid, as well as martial arts champions from around the world,” Prof. Chan said.

“Sports performance is not only about strength. It is about stamina, recovery, heart health, bone strength, brain function, emotional resilience, and oxygen delivery.”

Drawing comparisons with aging athletes competing at elite levels, Prof. Chan referenced legendary boxer Mike Tyson to illustrate the biological challenges faced by older fighters.

“Mike Tyson fought younger men. He still had power, but stamina becomes more difficult with age,” he said.

“So the question becomes — can we help athletes recover faster, strengthen the heart, strengthen the bones, improve oxygenation, improve mental focus, and extend athletic longevity? The answer is yes.”

Prof. Mike Chan explained that regenerative and precision medicine approaches increasingly focus on supporting specific biological systems linked to athletic performance.

“When you box, you need a strong heart. Your heart begins aging around 40. Bones begin aging much earlier,” he said.

“We study how to strengthen these systems — not only muscles, but the entire human machine.”

He also emphasized the importance of mental resilience in professional sports, leadership, and high-pressure environments.

“There is a part of the brain that controls emotion, stress, memory, and pressure management — the hippocampus,” he explained.

“Whether you are an athlete, a coach, a leader, or an entrepreneur, the mind becomes one of the most important performance organs.”

Prof. Mike Chan added that European Wellness has already worked with athletes and football organizations in Sabah, helping support recovery, performance optimization, and mental conditioning.

“We have done this with football players and teams here in Sabah,” he said.

“They come every week. We help improve performance, stamina, and mindset. I believe we can also contribute to boxing and martial arts here.”

The internationally known regenerative medicine pioneer also highlighted Sabah’s supportive environment for biomedical innovation and sports science collaborations.

“People always ask me — why Sabah?” he said.

“Because the Sabah government supports innovation and development. I believe Sabah can become an important center for sports performance and regenerative wellness.”

The evening also featured appearances by regional boxing talents and special guests, including rising Sabah fighters and international competitors participating in tomorrow’s card.

Another prolific figure in attendance was Hazman Siew, a distinguished champion boxer with credentials as WBA Asia South Featherweight Champion, ABF & UBO Champion, and a 5x National Boxing Champion.

Organizers described the event as more than a sporting contest, calling it a showcase of Sabah’s untapped combat sports talent and growing capability to host major international sporting events.

Now in its 104th edition, Twins Championship has evolved from a grassroots fight platform into one of Southeast Asia’s increasingly recognized combat sports promotions.

Saturday’s program at Dewan Kebudayaan Penampang will begin with amateur boxing matches from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, followed by professional undercard bouts from 5:00 PM onward.

The main card begins at 8:30 PM, headlined by the WBC Far East Featherweight Title fight between Khairul “King Azim” Hamdain and Suryadi Tambunan.

The event is expected to attract strong regional viewership through live broadcasts on TVS and digital streaming platforms.

For local supporters, the historic title bout represents more than a championship contest — it is a symbolic moment for Sabah boxing, regional athlete development, and the growing convergence between elite sports and regenerative science.