SINGAPORE – Local boxer Mohamad Nor Rizan will get a shot at becoming a World Boxing Council (WBC) champion next month.

The 39-year-old professional boxer will compete for the vacant WBC Asia Continental bantamweight (53.5kg) title on August 4 at The Pavilion at Far East Square.

Rizan, who has a 8-2-0 record with five knock-outs, will face Thailand’s Piched Chianawa, a 24-year-old with a 6-7-0 record, at the inaugural THRIVE Championship.

Having turned professional in 2006, Rizan has had to wait a long time for a world title bout and is “humbled” to finally get the opportunity.

“It was a long journey and I hope that my determination and perseverance will motivate younger boxers to keep training and to keep believing,” he said in a media release.

Rizan will be hoping to emulate compatriot Muhamad Ridhwan, who became Singapore’s first ever World Boxing Association (WBA) champion in April when he captured the Asia super featherweight title.

The latter subsequently became Singapore’s first professional boxing world champion by winning the Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) World super featherweight title in May.

The WBC and WBA are two of the four biggest boxing organisations in the world along with the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF).

While Rizan is considerably older than his upcoming opponent, he remains bullish about his chances.

“I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” he declared.

“I will be ready, and I am confident of taking this belt for Singapore, for my fans, and for myself.”

Rizan’s manager Willip Ho, who is the founder of the Fight Pro-Motion gym when his charge coaches and trains, agrees.

“Experience matters in title fights,” said Ho, who noted how Rizan showcased his abilities during his victory via split decision against Indonesian Master Suro earlier this January in Malaysia.

“It will be 10 rounds of boxing, so pacing oneself is key. Young and inexperienced boxers do not understand this.”

Another local boxer, Zakaria Ismail, will be making his professional boxing debut at the event.

The 33-year-old, who has more than 70 amateur fights under his belt and represented Singapore twice at the SEA Games, will face American Will Chope (1-0-0), an ex-UFC MMA fighter, in the light heavyweight category (79.4kg).

The THRIVE Championship is organised by Trievents and aims to “develop a domestic and regional platform for aspiring amateur kickboxing, muaythai, and boxing practitioners:.

Ho, the managing director, added: “We also aim to provide a platform for professional fighters to develop their reputations and track records. To achieve this, we aim to work closely with the various sanctioning bodies, associations, fight gyms and clubs.”

Known as THRIVE 01, the event will be held on Aug 4 and 5, with the first day focused on boxing and the second on muay thai.