Prize feat

By Jarrod Potter
LYNBROOK kickboxer Rohullah Paykari won his second title last weekend by winning the International Kick Boxing Federation (IKBF) Australia middleweight championship.
Paykari defeated Trent Hansen in a unanimous points decision in their five-round fight at the Kingston City Hall in Moorabbin.
Paykari was fighting up in a weight division, up to the middleweight division at 72.5kg-73kg when he regularly fights at lower weights.
“I usually fight at 67-69, but this time I fought with middleweights,” Paykari said.
“’Cause usually when I don’t fight, I’m usually 70-80 kilos, but it’s hard to cut the weight quickly and I didn’t have much time to prepare for this fight.
“I decided to fight a bigger division and the promoter asked me to fight in the bigger division, and if I did he’d give me a title fight.”
Paykari said the fight was tough, as both fighters exchanged blows and Paykari managed to floor Hansen in the first round, but it went the distance and the judges’ decision fell Paykari’s way.
“I did drop him in the first round with a left hook, but he was a tough fighter and he got up,” Paykari said.
“When he got up I did attack him, but I couldn’t stop him as he’s a very strong boy.
“The fight was tough from start to finish – he was a technical and smart fighter. “He got some good shots in around my face. I did head kick him in round five but he didn’t get dropped.
“He’s a very well respected fighter and was very nice.”
This is the second title Paykari holds, in addition to the World Kick Boxing Australia super welterweight title he won in October last year.
Paykari predicts his next fight will be for the WMC (World Muay-Thai Council) super welterweight title against Sam Edney some time in March or April, which is the dream title Paykari wants to win.
“There are so many titles in kickboxing, but the famous one is the WMC title. “That’s my dream to get that one – I want to get that one cause I’m a Muay-Thai kickboxer.”