Moroccan boxer Othmane Ferraoun wins WBF international professional boxing title

Essaouira – Moroccan boxer Othmane Ferraoun won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) international title on Saturday evening in Essaouira, defeating Slovakian Ales Odraska at an international professional boxing gala held at the Al Massira Al Khadra indoor arena.

In the main event of the evening, scheduled for 10 rounds, Othmane Ferraoun, who has 16 professional fights to his credit, managed to overcome his opponent, who had 12 professional fights, by knockout in the 6th round, securing a decisive victory and claiming this international belt in front of his hometown crowd.

Organized by the Essaouira Boxing Sports Association, in partnership with the Ring Hanzaz Dionysien Saint-Denis Association (France) and the Municipality of Essaouira, under the auspices of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation and the National Professional Boxing League, this sporting event also featured three other professional bouts.

In the 69 kg category, Yani Nait Atmane (France) defeated Mohamed Tadlaoui (Morocco), while the 67 kg bout between Frenchman Fabian Sauton and Moroccan Abderrahmane Ferraoun ended in a draw.

In the 72 kg category, the all-Moroccan fight between Youssef Mohib and Zakaria Trouli went to Mohib, who emerged victorious.

In a statement, Othmane Ferraoun said he was proud and honored to have won this prestigious international title in his hometown, noting that this victory crowns a year of preparation and hard work with his coaching staff.

“After winning an African and Middle Eastern belt at the 2024 edition, we have now won a World Boxing Federation belt,” he rejoiced, expressing his gratitude to his coaches, the partners who supported the organization of this event, and the large crowd that came to cheer him on.

The Moroccan champion also acknowledged the support of the local authorities, adding that “this achievement is a historic accomplishment for the city of Essaouira and a source of encouragement for the development of professional boxing locally.”

For his part, the Vice-President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, Nabil Hlimi, emphasized that this event is a significant step in the development of professional boxing in Morocco, under the auspices of the Federation and the relevant national bodies.

“This event, which brought together Moroccan and international professional boxers, is part of a dynamic aimed at strengthening the practice of this discipline and fostering the emergence of new opportunities for Moroccan boxers,” he noted.

The President of the National Professional Boxing League, Khalid Rahilou, highlighted the importance of organizing this gala to support the transition of Moroccan boxers from amateur to professional boxing.

“This evening represents a professional comeback and an opportunity to demonstrate that professional boxing can develop in Morocco,” he stated, praising the quality of the lineup and the level of the boxers involved in the various bouts.

This international sporting event took place in the presence of, among others, the president of the World Boxing Federation (WBF), Howard Goldberg, and the president of the Essaouira City Council, Tarik Ottmani, as well as representatives from international professional boxing organizations.

Through this event, the organizers aim to contribute to the promotion of professional boxing and strengthen its presence in Morocco, while showcasing the potential of Essaouira (the City of the Trade Winds) to host and organize international sporting events.