Moroccan boxer Othmane Ferraoun won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) international title on Saturday, October 18, evening in Essaouira, defeating Slovakia’s Ales Odraska at an international professional boxing gala held at the Al Massira Al Khadra indoor sports hall.
In the evening’s main event, scheduled for 10 rounds, Ferraoun, who has 16 professional fights to his name, got the better of his opponent, who has 12 professional bouts, by knockout in the sixth round. The decisive victory earned Ferraoun the international belt in front of the crowd in his hometown.
Organized by the Essaouira Boxing Sports Association in partnership with the Ring Hanzaz Dionysien Saint-Denis Association in France and the Essaouira municipality, under the auspices of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation and the National Professional Boxing League, the event also featured three other professional bouts.
In the 69kg category, France’s Yani Nait Atmane defeated Morocco’s Mohamed Tadlaoui, while the 67kg bout between France’s Fabian Sauton and Morocco’s Abderrahmane Ferraoun ended in a draw.
In the 72kg category, the all-Moroccan bout between Youssef Mohib and Zakaria Trouli went in favor of Mohib, who won the contest.
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Speaking to MAP after his victory, Othmane Ferraoun said he was proud and honored to have won the prestigious international title in his hometown, adding that the achievement capped a year of preparation and work with his coaching staff.
“After winning an African and Middle Eastern belt in the 2024 edition, we have now won a World Boxing Federation belt,” he said, expressing his gratitude to his coaches, the partners who supported the organization of the event and the large crowd that came to cheer him on.
The Moroccan champion also praised 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 at the local level.”
For his part, Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation Vice President Nabil Hlimi said the event represents an important step in the development of professional boxing in Morocco under the federation and the relevant national bodies.
“This event, which brought together Moroccan and foreign professional boxers, is part of an effort to strengthen the practice of the discipline and create new opportunities for Moroccan fighters,” he said.
Khalid Rahilou, president of the National Professional Boxing League, stressed the importance of organizing the gala to support Moroccan boxers as they move from amateur competition to professional boxing.
“This evening represents a professional return and an opportunity to demonstrate that professional boxing can develop in Morocco,” he said, praising the quality of the lineup and the level of the boxers involved in the various bouts.
The international sporting event was attended by World Boxing Federation (WBF) President Howard Goldberg, Essaouira Municipal Council President Tarik Ottmani and representatives of international professional boxing organizations.
Through the event, the organizers seek to promote professional boxing and strengthen its profile in Morocco, while showcasing Essaouira’s potential to host and organize international sporting events.
