Former Mongols bikie figure Sam Abdulrahim has won an Australian boxing title less than two years after he was shot five times in the chest.
The Melbourne gangland figure was successful in his Thursday night fight in Bangkok, Thailand, where he knocked out local fighter Panya Chomphoophuang to claim the WBC Australasian cruiserweight title.
Abdulrahim, who is promoted under the nickname ‘The Punisher’, secured his title in the fifth round with an uppercut sending Chomphoophuang down to the canvas, The Sun reports.
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The fight had to be relocated overseas after the Melbourne venue set to hold his previous bout was torched.
The Herald Sun reported the arson attack was linked to the city’s so-called tobacco war, believed to be carried out by “heavy hitters living outside Australia”.
Abdulrahim now has the potential to progress his career towards a position where he could challenge for a world title. He remains undefeated from eight fights.
The powerful crime figure survived a shooting outside Melbourne’s Faulkner cemetery in June, 2022, when his Mercedes four-wheel-drive was sprayed by bullets while he attended his cousin’s funeral.
He was struck five times in the upper body but made a full recovery and returned to boxing in May, 2023.
Victorian police told a court in June, 2023, they believed Abdulrahim had been the intended target of three separate shootings.
According to reports at the time of the funeral shooting in 2022, Abdulrahim drove himself to a nearby police station in order to seek help after being shot five times. He was then rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
The two alleged shooters fled the country in the days following the shooting.
Meanwhile, Abdulrahim on Thursday night took to Instagram to celebrate his victory where he became a two-belt WBC champ.
“I’d like to thank @cusickpatrick & @petermaniatis2003 and the @wbc__asia for giving me this opportunity,” he wrote.
“It was an absolute pleasure to fight in Bangkok, beautiful people and a once in life time experience ill never forget.
“Also thank you to my corner @joujou_82 @coach.pattaya @andreweglezos @powergymnasium @nuggetmcnaught @victor_nagbe @ka87 — And to all my sponsors for making this happen.”