Fadi Merza

Last updated
Fadi Merza
Fadi Ines Merza Wien 2012.jpg
Fadi and Ines Merza (Vienna 2012)
BornFadi Merza
(1978-03-08) 8 March 1978 (age 46)
Al-Dirbasiyah, Syria
Other namesThe Beast
Nationality Syrian-Austrian
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb; 11.3 st)
Division Middleweight
Reach71.0 in (180 cm)
Style Muay Thai
Stance Orthodox
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 retired middleweight kickboxer. Merza was a multiple world kickboxing and Muay Thai champion.

Contents

Biography and career

Early years

Fadi Merza was born in Al-Dirbasiyah, Syria. 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

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

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

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

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

Fadi Merza is married to his longtime girlfriend Ines.

Titles

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
127 wins (53 KOs), 26 losses, 2 draws
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
2014-12-06Win Flag of Italy.svg Gianfranco Capurso FFC 16: Vienna Vienna, Austria TKO11:45
Retiring bout. Catchweight (72.5 kg). [2]
2014-05-24Loss Flag of Austria.svg Foad SadeghiVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
2014-02-22Win Flag of Italy.svg Alex GalloneVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria KO2
2013-05-04Loss Flag of Italy.svg Fernando CalzettaMultiversumSchwechat, AustriaDecision53:00
Loses WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2013-02-23Win Flag of Montenegro.svg Ivan ToskovićVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria KO10:55
2012-12-08Win Flag of England.svg Jason WoodhamVendetta VI Vienna, Austria KO2
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-09-29Win Flag of Denmark.svg Mohamed El-Mir Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-06-30Win Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Darko DelicMultiversumSchwechat, AustriaTKO2
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title and wins OPBU K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-05-16Win Flag of Portugal.svg Dan BalsemaoVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
Retains WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2012-04-29Loss Flag of Greece.svg Mike Zambidis Iron Challenge Athens, Greece Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2012-03Win Flag of Portugal.svg Dan Balsemao Vienna, Austria Decision33:00
2012-02-17Loss Flag of Japan.svg Yoshihiro Sato Krush Vol. 16 Tokyo, Japan Decision (Unanimous)53:00
Loses ISKA Oriental World Light Middleweight title.
2011-04-30Win Flag of Turkey.svg Imre GyarmatiPremium Fight Night Vienna, Austria KO1
2011Loss Flag of France.svg Cedric MullerThe Challenger Muaythai Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2011-04-09Loss Flag of Turkey.svg Ali Gunyar A1 World Combat Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands Decision (Unanimous)33:00
Fight was for the WIPU K-1 rules World Super Middleweight title.
2011-02-25Win Flag of Turkey.svg Ogün Sesli Dubai, United Arab Emirates Decision33:00
2011-02-05Win Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Michal HaladaNitrianska Noc Bojovnikov 3 Nitra, Slovakia Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2011-01-22Win Flag of Sweden.svg Joakim Karlsson X-3 League Austria vs Russia Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
Wins WKA K-1 rules World Middleweight title.
2010-12-04Win Flag of Hungary.svg Istvan SzucsUltimate Cage Fighters Vienna, Austria KO1
2010-09-25Win Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro IaconoDie Nacht der 8 Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2010-08-25Win Flag of Germany.svg Bachir MarounStekos Fight Night Munich, Germany Decision53:00
Wins WKA K-1 rules World Super Welterweight title.
2010-06-05Draw Flag of Ireland.svg Anthony KaneVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision draw33:00
2010-05-08Win Flag of Hungary.svg Krisztian JaszkaUltimate Cage Fighters 3 Vienna, Austria TKO3
2010-04-03Loss Flag of Syria.svg Baker Barakat S-8 Thaiboxing Wuppertal, Germany Decision33:00
2010-03-21Loss Flag of Slovakia.svg Vladimír Moravčík Gala Night Žilina 2010 Žilina, Slovakia Decision33:00
2010-03-06Win Flag of France.svg Fabrice Riconneau Vienna, Austria KO
2010-02-07Win Flag of Italy.svg Luca D'Isanto Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous)53:00
Wins ISKA Oriental World Light Middleweight title.
2009-12-05Win Flag of Germany.svg Enriko Kehl King's Cup, Quarter Final Bangkok, Thailand Decision33:00
Despite winning fight, has to withdraw from tournament due to injury.
2009-10-31Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Alviar Lima KlasH European Elimination Martigny, Switzerland Decision (Unanimous)53:00
2009-09-26Loss Flag of Sweden.svg Tobias AlexanderssonBattle of Sweden 2 Stockholm, Sweden Decision (Unanimous)53:00
2009-09-19Win Flag of France.svg Rico RecineuKing's Cup Challenge, Final Arosa, Switzerland KO1
Wins WMC King's Cup Challenge tournament.
2009-09-19Win Flag of Turkey.svg Ümüt DemirörüsKing's Cup Challenge, Semi Final Arosa, Switzerland KO1
2009-03-28Loss Flag of Sweden.svg Joakim Karlsson Battle of Sweden 1 Stockholm, Sweden Decision (Split)33:00
2009-02Win Flag of France.svg Odje MandaWe are Back Vienna, Austria Decision33:00
2009-01-17Win Flag of Poland.svg Razadek FilipMuay Thai Europe vs Thailande Strasbourg, France KO4
2008-10-19Win Flag of Germany.svg Laurent SachsLords of the Ring Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2008-08-08Win Flag of Germany.svg Muhammed GürSwiss Las Vegas 3 Basel, Switzerland Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2008-04-20Win Flag of Belarus.svg Vasily Shish Vienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision33:00
2008-03-03Loss Flag of Thailand.svg Naruepol Fairtex SLAMM "Nederland vs Thailand IV" Almere, Netherlands TKO (Corner stoppage)40:00
2008-01-27Win Flag of Germany.svg Mark Vogel Vienna, Austria Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2007-12-15Win Flag of Germany.svg Bartosz KoscielniakSwiss Las Vegas 2 Basel, Switzerland Decision (Unanimous)33:00
2007-11-24Loss Flag of France.svg Abdallah Mabel Janus Fight Night 2007, Quarter Final Padua, Italy TKO2
2007-10-27Loss Flag of Thailand.svg Samranchai 96 PenangOne Night in Bangkok Antwerp, Belgium Decision (Unanimous)53:00
2007-07-21Win Flag of Germany.svg Olli KochKlasH II Albufeira, Portugal Decision33:00
2007-06-16Win Flag of Morocco.svg Yousef AkhnikhVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
2007-05-12Win Flag of Morocco.svg Omar AmramiSwiss Las Vegas 1 Basel, Switzerland Decision33:00
2007-03-03Win Vienna, Austria KO
2006-05-13Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Alviar Lima SuperLeague Elimination 2006 Vienna, Austria Decision33:00
Fight was for the SuperLeague Middleweight title.
2006-03-11Loss Flag of Turkey.svg Şahin Yakut SuperLeague Apocalypse 2006 Paris, France Decision33:00
2006-01-28Win Flag of Portugal.svg Jose ReisSuperLeague Hungary 2006 Budapest, Hungary Decision53:00
2005-11-19Win Flag of Romania.svg Florin VintilăSuperLeague Portugal 2005 Portugal KO2
2005-10-22Win Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Petr PolakSuperLeague Austria 2005 Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
2005-09-24Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Kamal El AmraniSuperLeague Turkey 2005 Istanbul, Turkey Decision33:00
2005-09-24Win Flag of Thailand.svg Malaipet SasiprapaSuperLeague Turkey 2005 Istanbul, Turkey Decision33:00
2005-05-21Win Flag of England.svg Peter CrookeSuperLeague Germany 2005 Germany Decision53:00
2005-04-09Loss Flag of Turkey.svg Şahin Yakut SuperLeague Austria 2005 Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
2004-11-14Loss Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ray StaringVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
Fight was for the WFCA Thaiboxing World Middleweight title.
2004-10-23Win Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Thomas HladkySuperLeague Germany 2004 Germany Decision53:00
2004-05-22Loss Flag of Denmark.svg Ole Laursen SuperLeague Switzerland 2004 Winterthur, SwitzerlandDecision53:00
2004-03-20Loss Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Wayne Parr SuperLeague Italy 2004 Padova, Veneto, Italy Decision (Unanimous)53:00
2004-01-25Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Kamal El AmraniVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
Fight was for the IKBO World Middleweight title.
2003-12-06Loss Flag of Denmark.svg Ole Laursen SuperLeague Netherlands 2003 Germany Decision53:00
2003-09-27Win Flag of Japan.svg Akeomi Nitta SuperLeague Germany 2003 Germany Decision53:00
2003-05-10Win Flag of Japan.svg Takahiko ShimizuSuperLeague Austria 2003 Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
2002-10-27Win Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Bjorn MarienVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision53:00
2002-09-08Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Nadir LarecheThe Fighting Party Rotterdam, Netherlands KO5
2002-05-24Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Mohammed OualiVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria Decision (Split)53:00
Fight was for the WKA Thaiboxing World Middleweight title.
2001-05Win Flag of England.svg Eugene ValerioVienna Fight Night Vienna, Austria TKO (Referee stoppage)2
Wins WKA Thaiboxing European Middleweight title.
2000Win Vienna, Austria
Wins WPKC Muay Thai World Middleweight title.
2000-01-26Loss Flag of Belarus.svg Vasily Shish Vienna, Austria KO
1997-11-15Win Austria
Wins WPKL Junior World Super Welterweight title.
1996Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Abdel Bchiri Rabat, Morocco Decision
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

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References