Amir "The Sphinx" Zeyada (born February 15, 1984) is an
Egyptian-
Dutch cruiserweight Muay Thai
Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...
kickboxer
Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general ...
currently fighting out of the
Chakuriki Gym in
Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he is trained by
Thom Harinck
Thom Harinck (born 22 December 1943) is a Dutch kickboxer and kickboxing trainer and founder of the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam. He is married to Marjan Olfers, former member of the board of Ajax and from 1 May 2012 professor in sports law.
Bio ...
. He is a former Dutch national champion who originally started fighting as a
middleweight
Middleweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing Professional
In professional boxing, the middleweight division is contested above and up to .
Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have be ...
. Zeyada holds two notable knockout victories over the highly rated
Tyrone Spong.
Biography/Career
Amir started off fighting at C and B-Klass level in the Netherlands. He got his first major victory when he faced fellow prospect (and future multiple world champion)
Tyrone Spong in 2002, defeating the young Spong in somewhat bizarre fashion, with Spong knocking himself out after slamming Zeyada to the floor after a clinch. In 2005 Amir would win his first title, defeating Abder Bechiri in
Zaandam to win the World Kickboxing Network (W.K.N.) Dutch title by
knockout
A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...
in the first round.
As Dutch champion, Zeyada was signed to the newly created SuperLeague, a European-based promotion which aimed to bring highly competitive fights to the continent, potentially rivaling
K-1
K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993, well known worldwide mainly for its heavyweight division fights and Grand Prix tournaments. In January 2012, K-1 Global Holdings Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong, acquired ...
, which would give Amir the chance to fight some of the top kickboxers in the world. He won his first match with the organization outclassing French champion Karim Aliouane on his debut at SuperLeague Portugal 2005 to win via decision. Despite the promising opening, Zeyada would have limited success within SuperLeague, finishing with a losing record of two wins and three defeats by the time of the organizations demise in 2006.
After the demise of SuperLeague, Amir made his debut with the blossoming
It's Showtime organization at the start of 2007, taking part in an eight-man preliminary tournament in
Zwolle, where he made the semi finals only to lose to eventual winner Karapet Papijan. The next month he had a long-awaited rematch against
Tyrone Spong at a Rings event in
Utrecht. Amir had defeated Spong back in 2002 at B-Klass level but Spong was now far more experienced fighter, and a European and world champion to boot. Tyrone dominated Amir for the first two rounds of their match getting a knockdown in the second and being far the superior fighter. However, Amir came back in the third knocking Spong down with a huge left hand and swarmed the pre-match favourite, knocking him down again en route to a
TKO TKO may refer to:
Sports
* Technical knockout, a professional fighting term
* Total Knock Out, a professional wrestling move
Music Artists
* TKO (band), a rock band from Seattle, Washington
* TKO, a pop group led by Katie White
Albums
* ''TKO ...
victory.
Since the second Spong victory Amir's career has failed to really take off, losing a Dutch title fight on his
K-1
K-1 is a professional kickboxing promotion established in 1993, well known worldwide mainly for its heavyweight division fights and Grand Prix tournaments. In January 2012, K-1 Global Holdings Limited, a company registered in Hong Kong, acquired ...
debut and making an unsuccessful bid for the World Full Contact Association (W.F.C.A.) European title against holder Imro Main in 2008 as he has moved up through the divisions. In 2010 he had a shot at the vacant E.M.T.A. European title, losing to
Murthel Groenhart by
TKO TKO may refer to:
Sports
* Technical knockout, a professional fighting term
* Total Knock Out, a professional wrestling move
Music Artists
* TKO (band), a rock band from Seattle, Washington
* TKO, a pop group led by Katie White
Albums
* ''TKO ...
. In 2011 he had arguably his biggest fight to date, showing great heart but ultimately coming up short in a five round battle against
Sahak Parparyan for the vacant
It's Showtime 85MAX world title.
He lost to
Bogdan Stoica
Bogdan Cristian Stoica (born January 28, 1990) is a Romanian professional kickboxer and boxer, and former wushu practitioner. He is currently signed to ONE Championship. Stoica is also one-time SUPERKOMBAT Cruiserweight Champion, one-tim ...
by first round knockout at
SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix IV 2013 in Giurgiu, Romania on October 12.
Weekend Results: SuperKombat WGP Giurgiu
/ref>
Titles
*2005 World Kickboxing Network Dutch national champion
Kickboxing record
, -
, - bgcolor= "#FFBBBB"
, 2013-10-12 , , Loss , , align=left, Bogdan Stoica
Bogdan Cristian Stoica (born January 28, 1990) is a Romanian professional kickboxer and boxer, and former wushu practitioner. He is currently signed to ONE Championship. Stoica is also one-time SUPERKOMBAT Cruiserweight Champion, one-tim ...
, , SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix IV 2013 , , Giurgiu, Romania
Giurgiu (; bg, Гюргево) is a city in southern Romania. The seat of Giurgiu County, it lies in the historical region of Muntenia. It is situated amongst mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube facing the Bulgarian city ...
, , KO (left hook), , 1, ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2011-11-12 , , Win , , align=left, Moises Ruibal , , Street Culture, Fight Club Group & Canary Kickboxing Federation presents: It’s Showtime 53 , , Tenerife, Spain , , TKO (referee stoppage) , , 3 , , 2:53
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2011-05-21 , , Loss , , align=left, Sahak Parparyan , , Fightclub presents: It's Showtime 2011 , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , Decision (Majority) , , 5 , , 3:00
, -
! style=background:white colspan=9 ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2010-02-27 , , Loss , , align=left, Murthel Groenhart , , Amsterdam Fight Club 3 , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , TKO (Doc Stop/Cut) , , 1 , ,
, -
! style=background:white colspan=9 ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2010-01-09 , , Loss , , align=left, Sem Braan
Sem "Semtex" Braan (born October 6, 1979) is a Dutch Muay Thai super middleweight kickboxer fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands for Mejiro Gym. He is the 2008 It's Showtime Reality Show winner currently competing in the It's Showtime 77MAX di ...
, , Ring Sensation Championship: Uprising 12 , , Rotterdam, Netherlands , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2009-10-25 , , Loss , , align=left, L'houcine Ouzgni
L'houcine "Aussie" Ouzgni (born 10 March 1983) is a Dutch-Moroccan Light Heavyweight/Middleweight Muay Thai kickboxing, kickboxer fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands for Top Team Beverwijk. Aussie is a firm fan favorite in the Netherlands due ...
, , Top Team Beverwijk Gala , , Beverwijk, Netherlands , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2009-05-31 , , Loss , , align=left, Khalid Bourdif , , Amsterdam Fight Club , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2009-04-11 , , Win , , align=left, Jamie de Vries , , Amsterdam Fight Club , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2009-03-01 , , Loss , , align=left, Khalid Chabrani , , K-1 World MAX 2009 Europe, Title Fight , , Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...
, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00
, -
! style=background:white colspan=9 ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2008-04-? , , Loss , , align=left, Sem Braan
Sem "Semtex" Braan (born October 6, 1979) is a Dutch Muay Thai super middleweight kickboxer fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands for Mejiro Gym. He is the 2008 It's Showtime Reality Show winner currently competing in the It's Showtime 77MAX di ...
, , It's Showtime Reality Show '08, Semi Final , , Koh Samui, Thailand , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2008-04-? , , Win , , align=left, Florin Vintilla , , It's Showtime Reality Show '08, Semi Final , , Koh Samui, Thailand , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2008-04-? , , Win , , align=left, Issaoui Halim , , It's Showtime Reality Show '08, Semi Final , , Koh Samui, Thailand , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2008-07-05 , , Loss , , align=left, Imro Main , , Amsterdam Fight Club , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , KO (Knees) , , 2 , ,
, -
! style=background:white colspan=9 ,
, -
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, 2007-06-02 , , Loss , , align=left, Yücel Fidan , , Gentleman Fight Night Tilburg , , Tilburg, Netherlands
Tilburg () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, in the southern province of North Brabant. With a population of 222,601 (1 July 2021), it is the second-largest city or municipality in North Brabant after Eindhoven and the seventh-larg ...
, , KO (Punches) , , 5 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2007-04-29 , , Loss , , align=left, Pajonsuk , , Beatdown Gala , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2007-03-25 , , Win , , align=left, Tyrone Spong , , Rings Gala, Vechtsenbanen , , Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...
, , TKO (Ref Stop/Punches) , , 3 , , 1:49
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2007-02-02 , , Win , , align=left, Karapet Papijan , , It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Zwolle, Semi Final , , Zwolle, Netherlands , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2007-02-02 , , Win , , align=left, Ruben van der Giessen , , It's Showtime 75MAX Trophy Zwolle, Quarter Final , , Zwolle, Netherlands , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2006-05-13 , , Loss , , align=left, José Reis , , SuperLeague Elimination 2006, Semi Final , , Vienna, Austria , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2006-05-13 , , Win , , align=left, Hamid Boujaoub , , SuperLeague Elimination 2006, Quarter Final , , Vienna, Austria , , TKO (Corner Stop/Leg Injury) , , 2 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2006-03-11 , , Loss , , align=left, Jordan Tai , , SuperLeague Apocalypse 2006 , , Paris, France , , TKO (Ref Stop/Punches) , , 2 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2006-01-28 , , Loss , , align=left, István Tóth , , SuperLeague Hungary 2006 , , Budapest, Hungary
Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population of ...
, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2005-12-11 , , Loss , , align=left, Imro Main , , Rings Fight Gala, Semi Final , , Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...
, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2005-11-19 , , Win , , align=left, Karim Aliouane , , SuperLeague Portugal 2005 , , Carcavelos, Portugal , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2005-06-26 , , Win , , align=left, Abder Bechiri , , Day of the Panther , , Zaandam, Netherlands , , KO , , 1 , ,
, -
! style=background:white colspan=9 ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2005-04-03 , , Loss , , align=left, Rayen Simson , , Rings Muay Thai Gala , , Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...
, , TKO (Corner Stop/Towel) , , 5 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2004-12-12 , , Win , , align=left, Melvin Rozenblad , , Free Fight Event XX , , Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...
, , TKO (Low Kicks) , , 2 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2004-10-10 , , Loss , , align=left, Gago Drago , , 2 Hot 2 Handle , , Rotterdam, Netherlands , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#c5d2ea"
, 2004-06-? , , Draw , , align=left, Youssef Aknikh , , , , Netherlands , , Decision Draw , , 5 , , 3:00
, -
, - bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
, 2004-04-04 , , Loss , , align=left, Benito Caupain , , Rings Gala Utrecht , , Utrecht, Netherlands
Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...
, , KO (Left Hook) , , 5 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2003-11-30 , , Win , , align=left, Cedric Bacuna , , Killerdome IV , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , TKO (Ref Stop/2 Knockdowns) , , 1 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2003-02-02 , , Win , , align=left, Melvin Rozenblad , , Killerdome II , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , KO (Right Punch) , , 2 , ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2002-06-21 , , Win , , align=left, Karim El Assati , , Zonnehuis Gala , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , KO (Low kick) , , 4, ,
, -
, - bgcolor="#CCFFCC"
, 2002-05-19 , , Win , , align=left, Tyrone Spong , , Itai-Te Promotions, Thaiboksgala Predators III , , Amsterdam, Netherlands , , KO (Slam) , , 4 , , 0:47
, -
, -
, colspan=9 , ''Legend'':
See also
* List of It's Showtime events
* List of It's Showtime champions
* List of male kickboxers
External links
Chakuriki Pancration Official website
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeyada, Amir
1984 births
Living people
Dutch male kickboxers
Egyptian male kickboxers
Cruiserweight kickboxers
Middleweight kickboxers
Dutch Muay Thai practitioners
Egyptian Muay Thai practitioners
Sportspeople from Amsterdam
Dutch people of Egyptian descent
Egyptian emigrants to the Netherlands
Glory kickboxers
SUPERKOMBAT kickboxers