Bullied as a boy, doubted by his mother, this Johorean fought for his dream
THE gym is quiet when I meet Reza Afiq. The punching bags hang motionless, the ring stands empty, and medals and trophies displayed on the shelves offer the only visible clues to the intensity that usually fills this space.
At 28, Reza Afiq is a quiet and composed man who goes by the nickname "Machete." He is a professional Muay Thai fighter, coach, manager, and owner of Phet Muay Thai in Kota Damansara, a gym he took over three years ago. Reza's journey into fighting was unconventional, as he didn't grow up dreaming of becoming a professional fighter and his family didn't encourage him towards the sport.
He was the youngest of five children and grew up in a quiet Johor Baru household where school wasn't always a happy experience due to his small and skinny build making him a target for bullies. Reza started training in mixed martial arts (MMA) at 18 and, after winning his first bout without informing his parents, began his professional fighting career.
Despite his success, Reza remains underappreciative of his achievements, attributing his resilience to the advice his father gave him: "Don't assume you know everything. If you want to do something, learn."
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
