Following the successful event of the Malta K1 Kickboxing Nationals 2024 that was held at the end of the weekend at Monte Kristo Hal Farrug, the Malta Kickboxing Association will now form the Maltese kickboxing national team, who will compete in this coming October ISKA (International Sports Karate & Kickboxing Association) world champions in Vienna.
The Mala Kickboxing Association will form the Maltese national team following an amazing evening of exciting fights amongst fighters from eleven different local kickboxing clubs, from various categories and age groups.
Twenty-eight fighters who have won their respective categories will make up the national squad.
The fighters’ names are as follows:
Junior boys 6 to 11 years:
- Jake Azzopardi (-40kg) Junior boys 12 to 14 years:
- Josip Bosnjak (-40kg)
- Isaac Bugeja (-45kg)
- Esequiel Seychell (-35kg)
- Liron muscat (-65kg)
- Cain Xavier Chetcuti (-40kg)
Junior girls 12 to 14 years:
- Dana Cassar (-50kg)
Junior Boys 15 to 17 years:
- Jake Gomez (75kg+)
- Jaydee Cassar (-70kg)
- Skyler Bezzina (-60kg)
- Victor Galea (-50kg)
Junior girls 15 to 17 girls
- Samantha Portelli (-60kg)
Men 18+:
- Logan Galea (-60kg)
- Rifat Bostan (-65kg)
- Teodore Sammut (-70kg)
- Toraino singleton (-80kg)
- Milivoje Bajic (-85kg)
- Borko Stanjocic (-75kg)
- Jesred Piscopo (-70kg)
- Ryan Cachia (-65kg)
- Danzel Azzopardi (-60kg)
Female 18+:
- Caley Fourie (-50kg)
- Finial Liebe (-55kg)
- Leanne Magro (-60kg)
- Ahweafa Garenne (-50kg)
- Celeste Galea (-65kg)
Three other important bouts that were scheduled for the event were: two for the ISKA AMA K-1 European title belts; one for the females, won by Maltese fighter Emma Xuereb from Team Noel club Malta against Harnafi from Team France, and one for the males, won by Faris Luković from Team Malta against Joseph from Team UK. Additionally, the final bout was for the WBC Mediterranean AMA title belt, also won by the local fighter from Team Noel club Malta ADAM Lamouz against Luigi Merenda from Team Italy.
For a special event of this high level, MKBA invited Mr. Paul Hennesey, the president of ISKA Europe, to present the two ISKA titles, as well as, Mr. Lluis Llorett, supervisor of the World Boxing Council (WBC ), to present the WBC Mediterranean AMA Muay Tai title belt. Finally, during the event, Mr. Paul Nicholls, ISKA European Rules Director, was also invited to oversee the entire judging and refereeing process.
Now that the Maltese fighters are known, led by the MKBA committee, together with the coaches and the President Mr. Isaac Chetcuti, the Maltese team will start a series of training camps. The primary objective of these camps, which will be held in a competitive sports environment, is to help the fighters improve their skills and tactics to be able to defeat their opponents and achieve the best possible results for themselves and for the Maltese nation.
Lastly, the MKBA committee and President Mr. Chetcuti would like to thank the Gladiators’ promotion for their invaluable help in organising such a great event, all of the workers who contributed throughout the event, and last but not least, the wonderful audience that attended to cheer on their fighters.
