Muhamad Ridhwan
{{short description|Singaporean boxer (born 1987)}}
Muhamad Ridhwan bin Ahmad (born 14 December 1987),{{cite web|title=Profile of Muhamad Ridhwan bin Ahmad|url=https://www.myactivesg.com/team-singapore/athletes/m/muhamad-ridhwan-bin-ahmad|publisher=My Active SG|accessdate=22 October 2017}} also known as Muhamad Ridhwan, is a Singaporean retired boxer who, as of 2024 is the boxing coach of the Singaporean national team.
Amateur career
Muhamad Ridhwan started boxing at the age of 16.
In the 2011 SEA Games, Ridhwan represented Singapore and won a bronze medal in the 60kg boxing event after being eliminated by Mandiangan Matius of Indonesia in the semi-finals.{{cite web|author=Sazali Abdul Aziz|title=Boxer Ridhwan eyes the Midas punch|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/others/boxer-ridhwan-eyes-midas-punch|work=The New Paper|accessdate=22 October 2017}}{{cite web|title=Empat Petinju Putra Indonesia ke Final|url=http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2011/11/20/07413321/Empat.Petinju.Putra.Indonesia.ke.Final|work=Kompas|accessdate=22 October 2017}}{{cite web|title=Singaporeans in Action|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20111119-1.2.40.4|work=Today|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
In the 2013 SEA Games, Ridhwan won a bronze medal in the 60kg boxing event after being eliminated by Junel Cantancio of the Philippines in the semi-finals.{{cite web|first1=Han Keong|last1=Chia|title=SEA Games: Two bronzes from boxing for Singapore after semi-final losses|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/sea-games-two-bronzes-from-boxing-for-singapore-after-semi-final-losses|publisher=The Straits Times|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
In the 2015 SEA Games, Ridhwan won a bronze medal in the 56kg boxing event after being eliminated by Tanes Ongjunta of Thailand in the semi-finals.{{cite web|author=Sazali Abdul Aziz|title=SEA Games lost was 'big blow': Singaporean boxer Muhammad Ridhwan|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/others/boxer-ridhwan-turns-professional|work=The New Paper|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
Ridhwan is also a co-founder of Legends Fight Sport, a Singaporean boxing gym.{{cite web|last1=Stefanus|first1=Ian|title=Singapore’s Muhamad Ridhwan boxing his way onto world stage|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapores-muhamad-ridhwan-boxing-way-onto-world-stage-120634361.html|publisher=Yahoo Sports Singapore|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
Professional career
In late 2015, Ridhwan went for a coaching course while on the International Olympic Committee's scholarship, but realized on the first day that he did not want to give up actually boxing. Thus, he made the decision to transit to professional boxing in February 2016.
In April 2017, Ridhwan defeated Waldo Sabu of Indonesia via knockout in the second round to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia Featherweight Championship.{{cite web|last1=Ng|first1=Charmaine|title=Muhamad Ridhwan's gamble pays off with championship belt|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/ridhwans-gamble-pays-off-with-belt|work=The Straits Times|accessdate=22 October 2017}} This was his sixth knockout in winning his first seven professional boxing matches.
In May 2017, Ridhwan defeated Fadhili Majiha of Tanzania via knockout in the fourth round to capture the Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) world super featherweight (58.97kg) title, becoming the first Singaporean to hold a world title in professional boxing.{{cite web|last1=Farhan|first1=Noor|title=Boxing: Muhamad Ridhwan 'The Chosen One' wins Singapore’s first UBO world title|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/boxing-muhamad-ridhwan-the-chosen-one-wins-singapore-s-first-ubo-8889056|publisher=Channel News Asia|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
In October 2017, Ridhwan defeated Nataneal Sebastian via unanimous decision after 12 rounds to win the International Boxing Organization (IBO) international super featherweight (58.97kg) championship. This was his ninth win of nine professional boxing bouts, and by this time he had given himself the nickname of "The Chosen Wan".{{cite web|last1=Farhan|first1=Noor|title=Singaporean Muhamad Ridhwan extends unbeaten streak to win IBO international title|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/boxing-singaporean-muhamad-ridhwan-extends-unbeaten-streak-to-9329922|publisher=Channel News Asia|accessdate=22 October 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Wong|first1=Lester|title=Ridhwan takes IBO belt and eyes world title bid|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/ridhwan-takes-ibo-belt-and-eyes-world-title-bid|website=The Straits Times|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
In September 2018, Ridhwan lost for the first time in professional boxing, to Paulus Ambunda, in a split decision after 12 rounds, in a match for the International Boxing Organisation super bantamweight (55kg) championship.{{cite news |last1=Aziz |first1=Sazali |title=Boxing: No world title for Muhamad Ridhwan after split-decision loss to Paulus Ambunda |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/boxing-no-world-title-for-muhamad-ridhwan-after-split-decision-loss-to-paulus-ambunda |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=The Straits Times |date=29 September 2018}} Ridhwan was scheduled for a rematch against Ambunda in March 2019, but before that occurred, Ridhwan publicly declared in January 2019 that he had retired.{{cite news |last1=Osman |first1=Shamir |title=Boxing: Ridhwan announces shock retirement, sparks confusion ahead of March WBC title bout |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/boxing-ridhwan-announces-shock-retirement-sparks-confusion-ahead-of-march-wbc-title-bout |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=The Straits Times |date=11 January 2019}} Ridhwan did not actually retire at that point, as he boxed again professionally in March 2019.{{cite news |last1=Paulo |first1=Derrick |title=The Singaporean boxer who wouldn’t quit, in the ring and in business |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/singaporean-boxer-muhamad-ridhwan-quit-ring-business-legends-869601 |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=ChannelNewsAsia |date=6 July 2019}} However, Ridhwan lost again, this time to Landy Cris Leon.{{cite news |title=History beckons for Ambunda |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/history-beckons-for-ambunda/ |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=The Namibian |date=12 April 2019}}
By 2024, Ridhwan had retired from boxing.{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Tianbao |title=From rivals to partners: Ex-national boxers Hamzah Farouk and Muhamad Ridhwan combine to lift sport |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/from-rivals-to-partners-ex-national-boxers-hamzah-farouk-and-muhamad-ridhwan-combine-to-lift-sport |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=The Straits Times |date=18 August 2024}}
Coaching career
Ridhwan began coaching the Singapore national boxing team in June 2020, a role he continued to hold as of 2024.{{cite news |last1=Aziz |first1=Sazali |title=Boxing: Muhamad Ridhwan appointed co-coach as national squad aims for improvement |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/combat-sports/boxing-muhamad-ridhwan-appointed-co-coach-as-national-squad-aims-for-improvement |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=The Straits Times |date=4 June 2022}}