Merza wants more

“Now I want to get into the ring against Marcos”

Fadi Merza (right) in the "Krone" studio with Marcos Nader.(Bild: Mario Urbantschitsch)

At the age of 46, martial arts legend Fadi Merza, who has been world champion in Thai boxing several times, took on a classic boxing match for the first time. After his premiere triumph, he smelled a rat and challenged promoter and boxing legend Marcos Nader in the ring.

Before the fight at the Bounce Fight Night on Saturday, Fadi Merza lit a candle in the church. On Sunday after the fight, he returned to the church service. For the first time as the winner of a classic boxing match.

"That was a hard piece of work," the 46-year-old puffed through his chest. He was world champion as a Thai boxer and was now back in the ring after a ten-year break, making his boxing debut. And climbed out of the ring after six rounds as a unanimous points winner against Bosnian Kenan Catic, who is 20 years his junior.

"Six rounds was also new to me. In Thai boxing, you have a maximum of five rounds. But I was very well prepared in terms of fitness and I was relaxed." Impressive at 46 and after ten years without a fight.

Merza (left) emerged victorious from the fight.(Bild: Christopher Blank)

Fadi's son Michel was not yet born when his father was last in the ring. He watched the fight on Saturday with his mother Ines at home in front of the TV. "We had actually agreed that he shouldn't watch it, as something can always happen. But he called me straight after the fight and told me how proud he was of me because I had won. I was on the verge of tears."

Now Merza wants more: "Now I want to get into the ring against Marcos Nader." The Bounce Night organizer wants to give his farewell fight in November. Fadi is ready as an opponent.

Michaela Kotaskova won the world title.(Bild: Christopher Blank)

Michaela Kotaskova also had reason to celebrate. The 32-year-old bounce boxer won the WBF welterweight title against Argentina's Erica Alvarez and remains undefeated after eight professional fights.

In contrast, Vienna-based German Nicole Wesner had to relinquish her lightweight title. She lost on points against the Serbian Nina Pavlovic. A rematch, in which she would like to regain the lost title, has already been arranged.