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Fadi Merza

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Fadi Merza
Fadi and Ines Merza (Vienna 2012)
BornFadi Merza
(1978-03-08) 8 March 1978 (age 46)
Al-Dirbasiyah, Syria
Other namesThe Beast
NationalitySyrian-Austrian
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb; 11.3 st)
DivisionMiddleweight
Reach71.0 in (180 cm)
StyleMuay Thai
StanceOrthodox
TeamOctagon
City Thong Gym
Team Merza
Years active1997–present
Kickboxing record
Total155
Wins127
By knockout53
Losses26
Draws2
Last updated on: February 22, 2014

Fadi Merza (born 8 March 1978) is a Syrian born Austrian-Assyrian retired middleweight kickboxer. Merza was a multiple world kickboxing and Muay Thai champion.

Biography and career

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Early years

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Fadi Merza was born in Al-Dirbasiyah, Syria to a Christian Assyrian family. Fadi was ten years old, when he and his family left his native Syria and moved to Vienna. "My parents just wanted to provide us a secure future. Within just six months, I had mastered the German language", said Merza in a 2012 interview. At the age of 16, Fadi started training kickboxing. After fighting as an amateur in the kickboxing circuit, he switched to Muay Thai. He was awarded his first title at age 18, when he won the WPKL Junior World Super Welterweight Championship during an event near Vienna, Austria on November 15, 1997.

Having become a youth champion, Merza was given the chance in 2000 to fight for the World Muay Thai Middleweight Championship of the World Professional Kickboxing Council (WPKC), one of the minor sanctioning organizations in the world. Fadi decisioned his opponent to win his second World title. In May 2001, the European Thaiboxing Championship of the more prestigious WKA was at stake. He faced off against the routined Brit Eugene Valerio at the first Vienna Fight Night. Valerio was troubled by Fadi’s accurate knee strikes, suffering a cut above his eye. A well placed kick to the midsection finally proved to be the Brit’s downfall, by breaking his forearm. Fadi won via TKO in the second round.

A year later, again in Vienna, Fadi challenged Mohammed Ouali for the vacant WKA Thaiboxing World Middleweight title. The fight went to the distance after five grueling rounds. In front of his hometown crowd Fadi lost a close decision. Despite his defeat he was signed by Austrian businessman Marcus Bauer for his kickboxing organization SuperLeague.

Fighting for SuperLeague

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Merza made his debut in SuperLeague at the kick off show in Vienna in May 2003. Fadi showed a dominant performance against Takahiko Shimizu from Japan. At his second SuperLeague appearance, in Wuppertal, Germany, he faced off against another Japanese fighter, Akeomi Nitta. Fadi dominated the first two rounds, but the fight soon turned into a tough battle. After five hard rounds, Merza got a decision victory.

In January 2004, Merza challenged Kamal El Amrani for his IKBO World Middleweight Championship belt. In front of a sold-out crowd, again going to distance in a spectacular fight, Fadi lost a close decision against his well-known Moroccan adversary. Fadi Merza claimed the number three spot in the official SuperLeague middleweight rankings with victories over Peter Crook, Jose Reis, Petr Polak and Malaipet Sasiprapa and losing only his fights against Ole Laursen, Sahin Yakut and John Wayne Parr. Ending his successful SuperLeague career, Fadi faced Alviar Lima for the vacant SuperLeague Middleweight belt, losing a close decision. His fight against Lima is still considered by many fight fans as the best bout in SuperLeague history.

King's Cup participation

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Merza was able to return to the winner's column in impressive fashion by knocking out Ümüt Demirörüs and Rico Recineu, in one night to win the King’s Cup qualifier tournament in Switzerland in September 2009. Fadi earned himself a spot in the King's Cup, the most prestigious and biggest Muay Thai tournament in the world, which is held once a year in Bangkok, Thailand. Cheered on by over 150,000 spectators, Merza defeated his quarter final opponent, Enriko Kehl from Germany. Kehl hit the canvas twice, after being hit with hard elbows and knees, giving Merza the well deserved decision victory. Unfortunately, Fadi had to withdraw from the tournament due to a ruptured ear drum, as well as a cut over his right eye, forcing the ring-side doctor to not give his consent for another fight.

World title success

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After fighting for SuperLeague, Merza had regular appearances in international promotions all over the world. Merza was given the chance to fight for a world title again on February 7, 2010, taking on Luca D’Isanto for the ISKA Oriental Light Middleweight Championship. Staged at the Wiener Stadium in the centre of Vienna, Merza hurt Di Santo in the first round with a knee to the head. The Italian took an eight count but wasn’t ready to give up. Merza had to earn the title winning a clear unanimous decision. Before the year was done, he added one more world title to his mantlepiece, outpointing Bachir Maroun in Munich, Germany on August 25, 2010 to take the WKA K-1 rules World Super Welterweight belt.

On January 22, 2011, Fadi faced Joakim Karlsson in Vienna, Austria. A rematch as Karlsson defeated him in their first encounter. He decisioned the Swede over five rounds for the WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title. Merza made an impressive six successful title defenses during his reign as champion. For his first defense, he chose to fight Dan Balsemao from Portugal in a rematch. Balsemao had performed well in their first encounter, winning the fight on points. However, this time Merza bested the Portuguese over five rounds to defend the belt.

Fadi's next title defense pitted him against Darko Delic. The kickboxer from Bosnia and Herzegovina was not regarded as a top contender and it took Merza only two rounds to end the fight. His next defense was against a much tougher opponent. In September 2012, he faced the highly regarded Dane Mohammed El Mir. Merza proved that he still belonged on the world stage when he defeated El Mir on points. In his sixth defense, Fadi was challenged by Jason Woodham, a WMC MAD champion from England. Merza dominated the fight from start to finish. In the first round, the Brit went to the canvas. Clearly not having recovered, Manhood went down again in the second round after a two right hooks and a left jab combination. The referee intervened and stopped the fight.

On May 4, 2012, Merza eventually lost his WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title in his seventh title defense. After five rounds, almost everyone at ringside saw it as a draw. However, the fight went in favor of Fadi's opponent Fernando Calzetta, who was awarded a points win.

Doping suspension

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In 2013, Merza was suspended by the OPBU for 2 years for his refusal to submit a sample at Multiversum in Schwechat, Austria on 4 May 2013.[1]

Personal life

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Fadi Merza is married to his longtime girlfriend Ines.

Titles

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  • 2012 OPBU K-1 rules World Middleweight Championship
  • 2011 WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight Championship (6 title defenses)
  • 2010 WKA K-1 rules World Super Welterweight Championship
  • 2010 ISKA Oriental World Light Middleweight Championship
  • 2009 WMC King's Cup Challenge Tournament Champion
  • 2001 WKA Thaiboxing European Middleweight Championship
  • 2000 WPKC Muay Thai Middleweight Championship
  • 1997 World Professional Kickboxing League (WPKL) Junior World Super Welterweight Championship

Kickboxing record

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Kickboxing record
127 wins (53 KOs), 26 losses, 2 draws
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2014-12-06 Win Italy Gianfranco Capurso FFC 16: Vienna Vienna, Austria TKO 1 1:45
Retiring bout. Catchweight (72.5 kg).[2]
2014-05-24 Loss Austria Foad Sadeghi Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
2014-02-22 Win Italy Alex Gallone Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria KO 2
2013-05-04 Loss Italy Fernando Calzetta Multiversum Schwechat, Austria Decision 5 3:00
Loses WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2013-02-23 Win Montenegro Ivan Tosković Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria KO 1 0:55
2012-12-08 Win England Jason Woodham Vendetta VI Vienna, Austria KO 2
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-09-29 Win Denmark Mohamed El-Mir Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-06-30 Win Bosnia and Herzegovina Darko Delic Multiversum Schwechat, Austria TKO 2
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title and wins OPBU K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-05-16 Win Portugal Dan Balsemao Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-04-29 Loss Greece Mike Zambidis Iron Challenge Athens, Greece Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2012-03 Win Portugal Dan Balsemao Vienna, Austria Decision 3 3:00
2012-02-17 Loss Japan Yoshihiro Sato Krush Vol. 16 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Loses ISKA Oriental World Light Middleweight title.
2011-04-30 Win Turkey Imre Gyarmati Premium Fight Night Vienna, Austria KO 1
2011 Loss France Cedric Muller The Challenger Muaythai Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2011-04-09 Loss Turkey Ali Gunyar A1 World Combat Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
Fight was for the WIPU K-1 rules World Super Middleweight title.
2011-02-25 Win Turkey Ogün Sesli Dubai, United Arab Emirates Decision 3 3:00
2011-02-05 Win Czech Republic Michal Halada Nitrianska Noc Bojovnikov 3 Nitra, Slovakia Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2011-01-22 Win Sweden Joakim Karlsson X-3 League Austria vs Russia Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
Wins WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2010-12-04 Win Hungary Istvan Szucs Ultimate Cage Fighters Vienna, Austria KO 1
2010-09-25 Win Italy Alessandro Iacono Die Nacht der 8 Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2010-08-25 Win Germany Bachir Maroun Stekos Fight Night Munich, Germany Decision 5 3:00
Wins WKA K-1 rules World Super Welterweight title.
2010-06-05 Draw Republic of Ireland Anthony Kane Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision draw 3 3:00
2010-05-08 Win Hungary Krisztian Jaszka Ultimate Cage Fighters 3 Vienna, Austria TKO 3
2010-04-03 Loss Syria Baker Barakat S-8 Thaiboxing Wuppertal, Germany Decision 3 3:00
2010-03-21 Loss Slovakia Vladimír Moravčík Gala Night Žilina 2010 Žilina, Slovakia Decision 3 3:00
2010-03-06 Win France Fabrice Riconneau Vienna, Austria KO
2010-02-07 Win Italy Luca D'Isanto Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
Wins ISKA Oriental World Light Middleweight title.
2009-12-05 Win Germany Enriko Kehl King's Cup, Quarter Final Bangkok, Thailand Decision 3 3:00
Despite winning fight, has to withdraw from tournament due to injury.
2009-10-31 Loss Netherlands Alviar Lima KlasH European Elimination Martigny, Switzerland Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2009-09-26 Loss Sweden Tobias Alexandersson Battle of Sweden 2 Stockholm, Sweden Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2009-09-19 Win France Rico Recineu King's Cup Challenge, Final Arosa, Switzerland KO 1
Wins WMC King's Cup Challenge tournament.
2009-09-19 Win Turkey Ümüt Demirörüs King's Cup Challenge, Semi Final Arosa, Switzerland KO 1
2009-03-28 Loss Sweden Joakim Karlsson Battle of Sweden 1 Stockholm, Sweden Decision (Split) 3 3:00
2009-02 Win France Odje Manda We are Back Vienna, Austria Decision 3 3:00
2009-01-17 Win Poland Razadek Filip Muay Thai Europe vs Thailande Strasbourg, France KO 4
2008-10-19 Win Germany Laurent Sachs Lords of the Ring Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2008-08-08 Win Germany Muhammed Gür Swiss Las Vegas 3 Basel, Switzerland Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2008-04-20 Win Belarus Vasily Shish Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 3 3:00
2008-03-03 Loss Thailand Naruepol Fairtex SLAMM "Nederland vs Thailand IV" Almere, Netherlands TKO (Corner stoppage) 4 0:00
2008-01-27 Win Germany Mark Vogel Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2007-12-15 Win Germany Bartosz Koscielniak Swiss Las Vegas 2 Basel, Switzerland Decision (Unanimous) 3 3:00
2007-11-24 Loss France Abdallah Mabel Janus Fight Night 2007, Quarter Final Padua, Italy TKO 2
2007-10-27 Loss Thailand Samranchai 96 Penang One Night in Bangkok Antwerp, Belgium Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2007-07-21 Win Germany Olli Koch KlasH II Albufeira, Portugal Decision 3 3:00
2007-06-16 Win Morocco Yousef Akhnikh Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
2007-05-12 Win Morocco Omar Amrami Swiss Las Vegas 1 Basel, Switzerland Decision 3 3:00
2007-03-03 Win Vienna, Austria KO
2006-05-13 Loss Netherlands Alviar Lima SuperLeague Elimination 2006 Vienna, Austria Decision 3 3:00
Fight was for the SuperLeague Middleweight title.
2006-03-11 Loss Turkey Şahin Yakut SuperLeague Apocalypse 2006 Paris, France Decision 3 3:00
2006-01-28 Win Portugal Jose Reis SuperLeague Hungary 2006 Budapest, Hungary Decision 5 3:00
2005-11-19 Win Romania Florin Vintilă SuperLeague Portugal 2005 Portugal KO 2
2005-10-22 Win Czech Republic Petr Polak SuperLeague Austria 2005 Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
2005-09-24 Loss Morocco Kamal El Amrani SuperLeague Turkey 2005 Istanbul, Turkey Decision 3 3:00
2005-09-24 Win Thailand Malaipet Sasiprapa SuperLeague Turkey 2005 Istanbul, Turkey Decision 3 3:00
2005-05-21 Win England Peter Crooke SuperLeague Germany 2005 Germany Decision 5 3:00
2005-04-09 Loss Turkey Şahin Yakut SuperLeague Austria 2005 Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
2004-11-14 Loss Netherlands Ray Staring Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
Fight was for the WFCA Thaiboxing World Middleweight title.
2004-10-23 Win Switzerland Thomas Hladky SuperLeague Germany 2004 Germany Decision 5 3:00
2004-05-22 Loss Denmark Ole Laursen SuperLeague Switzerland 2004 Winterthur, Switzerland Decision 5 3:00
2004-03-20 Loss Australia John Wayne Parr SuperLeague Italy 2004 Padova, Veneto, Italy Decision (Unanimous) 5 3:00
2004-01-25 Loss Morocco Kamal El Amrani Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
Fight was for the IKBO World Middleweight title.
2003-12-06 Loss Denmark Ole Laursen SuperLeague Netherlands 2003 Germany Decision 5 3:00
2003-09-27 Win Japan Akeomi Nitta SuperLeague Germany 2003 Germany Decision 5 3:00
2003-05-10 Win Japan Takahiko Shimizu SuperLeague Austria 2003 Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
2002-10-27 Win Belgium Bjorn Marien Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision 5 3:00
2002-09-08 Loss Morocco Nadir Lareche The Fighting Party Rotterdam, Netherlands KO 5
2002-05-24 Loss Morocco Mohammed Ouali Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision (Split) 5 3:00
Fight was for the WKA Thaiboxing World Middleweight title.
2001-05 Win England Eugene Valerio Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria TKO (Referee stoppage) 2
Wins WKA Thaiboxing European Middleweight title.
2000 Win Vienna, Austria
Wins WPKC Muay Thai World Middleweight title.
2000-01-26 Loss Belarus Vasily Shish Vienna, Austria KO
1997-11-15 Win Austria
Wins WPKL Junior World Super Welterweight title.
1996 Loss Morocco Abdel Bchiri Rabat, Morocco Decision
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References

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