Tarik Khbabez Plans To Steal The Show Against Alain Ngalani

Tarik Khbabez TarikLicht

Two-time SUPERKOMBAT Heavyweight World Champion Tarik Khbabez has drawn a tough assignment in Macau, but he is confident of a knockout victory in his ONE Super Series debut.

The Moroccan-Dutch juggernaut is slated to clash with four-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing Heavyweight World Champion Alain “The Panther” Ngalani at ONE: PINNACLE OF POWER, which will broadcast live from the Studio City Event Center on Saturday, 23 June.

“I am thankful for the opportunity I have received in proving myself as a fighter,” the 26-year-old says.

“I know this is a great organization with a lot of good athletes, and I am proud to be a part of it. I will give the people a spectacle, a show, and a good, clean contest.”

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Khbabez, who trains under Maikel Polanen at ARJ Training in The Hague, Netherlands, is known for his intensity, his forward pressure, and his Dutch kickboxing style. It has led him to multiple world titles, as well as a stunning 42-5-1 kickboxing record. Even more impressively, more than half of those victories have come by knockout.

The hard-hitter has experienced tremendous international success against other elite heavyweights, which has paved the way to ONE Super Series, and his showdown with “The Panther.”

The Cameroonian-bred hulk has a career record of 25-7-1 (2 NC) in stand-up contests, with 23 of those wins coming by knockout. Now residing in Hong Kong – a short hop away from the bright lights of Macau – the 42-year-old expects to have the crowd on his side.

None of that fazes Khbabez, however. The Netherlands-based heavyweight acknowledges Ngalani is dangerous, but he is concentrating on showcasing his own abilities.

“He has very strong kicks. And his weakness? I do not know – let’s find out,” the Moroccan-Dutch heavyweight says.

“I am strong, young, and fit. I am focusing on my goal, and that is to win.”

Since leaving school at the age of 16 to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional kickboxer, Khbabez has acquired a decade’s worth of experience, but he believes his biggest victory yet will happen on 23 June.

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By defeating the imposing Ngalani in spectacular fashion, he would become one of the leading candidates to challenge for the division’s inaugural ONE Super Series World Title.

“Every win is a big moment in my career, but winning this one would really take me to a higher level,” Khbabez says.

“I will knock him out and win the fight. It will take me one step closer to becoming the ONE World Champion.”

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