Muscat – Muscat played host on Friday to an action-packed night of boxing at the third edition of Fitbox Fighting Championship (FFC 3.0) which brought together rising regional talent and international fighters in a WBC-sanctioned event.

Held in coordination with Oman Martial Arts and Self-Defence Committee and World Boxing Council (WBC), FFC 3.0 featured over ten bouts with 20 fighters participating across various weight categories. The event was part of the WBC Amateur Series and saw both amateur and professional fights – headgear and non-headgear fights in three-minute rounds.

Hosted at Sheraton Oman Hotel, the event attracted a large number of fans and marked a significant step forward for Oman’s presence in global combat sports.

The fight card featured athletes from Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Japan, Kazakhstan and India, besides Oman. Among the standout bouts of the evening was the light heavyweight clash between Iran’s Sina Yadollahifard and Lebanon’s Salman Kerdi, which drew loud cheers from the crowd before the latter emerged victorious. Omani fighter Munner Rasheed impressed spectators with a balanced display of defence and offence in his contest against Lebanon’s Ziad Fadi.

Ali Kerdi, President and Founder of FFC, said the event was a landmark for the sport in Oman. “FFC 3.0 was more than a series of fights. It was a platform for regional fighters to compete with international athletes and showcase their skills.” 

Kerdi added that the event aimed to raise the profile of boxing in Oman and create opportunities for local athletes to step into the global arena. “The boxing culture is slowly changing in Oman and more people are taking a keen interest in this sport.”

With growing interest in combat sports in the region, organisers believe the success of FFC 3.0 could pave the way for more international events in Oman.