Hakim Ketaieb will make the first defense of his WKN super lightweight title against former champion and newly-crowned European Muay Thai king Christian Zahe. The pair will battle it out in the main event of “Battle of Saint-Raphael 8” presented by Badri Rouabhia at Agora, Palais des Congrès in Saint-Raphaël, France on Friday, July 22.
The announcement was made today by World Kickboxing Network via its Twitter page (@WKNkickboxing).
French star Hakim Ketaieb earned the WKN super lightweight title last December at “Boxing Fighters System 2” in Nimes, France where he secured a unanimous decision against Antonio Campoy of Spain.
Former titleholder from Italy, Christian Zahe claimed the WKN European 66.7 kg (147 lbs) belt in Muay Thai by way of winning the four-man knockout tournament at “Bellicum 2” late May in Lugano, Switzerland.
Ketaieb vs Zahe for WKN super lightweight title is scheduled for five rounds under oriental rules.
The co-main event will see a three-round international women’s kickboxing bout between French “Girl Power” Mallaury Kalachnikoff, who over the course of her spectacular career held WKN women’s lightweight crown, and Belgian contender Kelly Danioko.
The undercard will feature some of the best French and international kickboxers including Illan Durand, Yoann Ha Van, Nasser Boungab, Arthur Klopp. The full Battle of Saint-Raphael 8 fight card will be announced in the coming weeks.
Battle of Saint-Raphael 8 fight card
WKN World super lightweight title
Hakim Ketaieb (c) vs. Christian Zahe
WKN International lightweight bout
Mallaury Kalachnikoff vs. Kelly Danioko