Noah Tan

Noahtanyw [at] mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE – The last time local boxer Nurshahidah Roslie was involved in a title fight, at Singapore Fighting Championship’s (SFC) Changing the Game boxing fest last November, it ended badly for her. The 29-year-old was beaten to the WBA (World Boxing Association) Oceania Female Super Featherweight championship via a fifth-round technical knock-out by New Zealander Gentiane ‘AAA’ Lupi.

The defeat, her first since turning professional at the start of last year, was a huge blow for Nurshahidah, who was looking to win her second international boxing championship after claiming the Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) Female Intercontinental super-featherweight title in June 2016.

However, it also provided a necessary wake-up call for the 1.65m tall boxer. She started training even harder after that to ensure that she would not falter again when her next title shot came a-calling.

This Saturday (Sep 23), Nurshahidah will get the opportunity to show how far she has come since that loss, when she takes on Thailand’s Siriphon Chanbuala at SFC 6: ‘Rise of Legends’ for two titles – the WBC (World Boxing Council) Asia Female Featherweight Championship, and the OPBF (Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) Silver Featherweight Championship.

Nurshahidah told TODAY that she is determined to leave the SFC ‘Rise of Legends’ event, with both titles around her waist.

“My previous fight was a real eye-opener, and in fact losing the title belt might have been the biggest lesson for me,” said Nurshahidah, who is nicknamed ‘The Sniper’.

“I was caught up in the moment and after looking back, I realised that I was not accurate in my punches and was not fast enough.

“So I’ve been working hard to improve myself, and in particular, focusing on developing my power and speed. I have been working out twice a day, and my coaches have been training me aggressively.

“Aside from that, I also make sure that I am well-prepared outside the ring as well…so that means getting sufficient rest and eating well, so hopefully all these will be pay off once I get into the ring.”

While 25-year-old Chanbuala boasts a credible record of 12 victories, four losses and two draws, Nurshahidah says she is not worried about her Thai opponent, and will focus on her own performance.

“I did not do any research on my opponent…but since she has a shot at the title, she must be good in the ring,” said Nurshahidah, who trains at JFC under SFC president Arvind Lalwani.

“I trust in my coach’s strategy...but every time I step into the ring, it is always a 50-50 chance, so I cannot say I am confident of a victory.

“However, I am very confident that I will give my opponent the fight of her life. There are two very prestigious titles to fight for, and yes, there’s definitely pressure on me, but I will not let that control how I’m psychologically preparing for my match.”

Nurshahidah will not be the only Singaporean boxer to challenge for a title at SFC 6 which will be held at the Juggernaut Fight Club (JFC) gym in Seng Poh Road.

Rafi Majid, who became the country’s first male professional boxing champion after winning the UBO Super Middleweight championship in March this year, will also be vying for the WBC Asia Silver Super Middleweight Championship.

But the 36-year-old will first have to get past Indonesia’s veteran boxer Maxi Nahak, who has a record of seven wins, 13 losses and three draws.

Rafi, who is still unbeaten with five wins, admits that he expects a tough fight from Nahak, who beat South Korean Eun Chang Lee for the WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver Middleweight title last year.

Said Rafi, who also trains at JFC: “Maxi is a very experienced opponent. He’s actually a celebrity in Indonesia because he won the WBC middleweight title after defeating a Korean opponent in Korea with a third round knock-out. That was impressive and also shows that he’s very used to being in a hostile environment.

“In addition, it’s a huge privilege to be fighting for such a prestigious title. Many great names hold the WBC belt, so this fight will likely be the biggest physical and psychological test for me.

“But I’ve been training very hard for the bout… I’ve made many sacrifices and put a lot effort going into this because it is such an important fight to me, and I want to make sure that I am fully prepared for it.”

Event: Singapore Fighting Championship (SFC) 6: Rise of Legends

Date: Sept 23, Saturday (6-11pm)

Location: Juggernaut Fight Club, 10 Poh Seng Road, Singapore

For more information, go to www.singaporefightingchampionships.com