Qamil Balla Explained

Qamil Balla
Realname:Qamil Balla
Nickname:"Golden Boy"
Height:1.78 m
Reach:175 cm
Nationality:Australian
Boxrec:609460
Total:15
Wins:13
Losses:1
Draws:1
Birth Date:10 August 1989
Birth Place:Werribee, Victoria, Australia
Style:Orthodox
Weight:Lightweight
Super lightweight
Ko:6

Qamil Balla (born 10 August 1989) is an Australian professional boxer. OPBF welterweight 9th place. WBO Asia Pacific Welterweight 10th place. As an amateur, he competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.[1]

Family background

Qamil Balla was born in Werribee to an Albanian family that immigrated from Albania to Australia prior to his birth.[2] Certain members of his family are boxers. His father Nuri was a Victorian champion while his uncle Mitat (also his former coach) was an Australian champion. His younger brother Ibrahim has also won Australian titles and represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the bantamweight division.[3]

Qamil starting boxing as a youngster alongside his brother Ibrahim and, by the age of 12, both were competing in – and winning – junior tournaments.[4]

Amateur career

As an amateur Balla competed in 70 bouts, with 62 wins. He won multiple Victorian and Australian titles, represented Australia internationally and finished top 30 in the world.

Balla was runner up in selection for the 2012 Summer Olympics in the light welterweight division but missed out to former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn with Gealan Toulea finishing in third position. Qamil had beaten Horn early in his amateur career in Port Adelaide at the selection trials for the 2009 World Championships but lost in a rematch at the Arafura Games and then in the 64 kg category at the 2012 Olympic trials.[5]

Professional career

Victoria State super lightweight champion

Qamil won his first professional title on 25 July 2013 against Nawakon Kitee of Thailand at The Melbourne Pavilion Flemington, Qamil being declared the winner by UD.

Australian super lightweight champion

On 12 September 2013 Qamil won his second professional title in his first 10 round bout against the tough Australian boxer Jack Brubaker at The Melbourne Pavilion Flemington. Qamil won by unanimous points decision with the judges cards reading 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93.[6]

On 25 June 2014 Qamil had his first title defence against fellow Melburnian and former Victorian Lightweight Champion Terry Tzouramanis. Qamil won the fight by unanimous points decision with the judge's cards reading 97-91, 98-90 and 99-89. Tzouramanis went down in round 3 and was deducted 1 pt in round 8 for excessive holding.

Interim WBA Oceania lightweight champion

Qamil won his third professional title on 18 March 2017 against experienced Colombian Rodolfo Puente. Referee Ignatius Missailidis stopped the fight at 2:29 in the first round following the second knockdown, Qamil declared the winner by TKO.

Balla Vs Kambosos

On 6 May 2017 Qamil experienced his first professional defeat against George Kambosos Jr. The bout was billed as the semi main event to the Joseph Parker Vs Razvan Cojanu, WBO World Heavyweight Title fight at New Zealand's Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City.

The two Australians put on the fight of the night with Kambosos taking control early and winning by unanimous points decision.[7]

WBA Oceania super lightweight champion

On 4 May 2019 Qamil started the year off with a solid TKO victory over experienced Indonesian Hero Tito for the vacant WBA Oceania Super lightweight title. The win was an impressive victory for Qamil after spending 14 months away from the ring due to a knuckle injury.[8]

Professional boxing record

NoResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
15Win13-1-1 Hero TitoTKO6/104 May 2019 Grand Star Receptions, Altona NorthWon vacant WBA Oceania super lightweight title
14Win12-1-1 Adam Diu AbdulhamidUD1011 Mar 2018 Grand Star Receptions, Altona North
13Loss11–1–1 George Kambosos Jr.UD106 May 2017 Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau City
12Win11–0–1 Rodolfo PuenteTKO1/1018 Mar 2017 Function Centre Melbourne Park, MelbourneWon interim WBA Oceania lightweight title
11Win10–0–1 Musa LetdingKO5/1010 Dec 2016 Function Centre Melbourne Park, Melbourne
10Win9–0–1 Terdchai DoungmontreeUD813 Aug 2016 Function Centre Melbourne Park, Melbourne
9Win8–0–1 Ben WarburtonUD611 Nov 2015 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne
8Win7–0–1 Terry TzouramanisUD1025 Jun 2014 The Melbourne Pavilion, FlemingtonRetained Australian super lightweight title
7Win6–0–1 Jack BrubakerUD1012 Sep 2013 The Melbourne Pavilion, FlemingtonWon vacant Australian super lightweight title
6Win5–0–1 Nawakon KiteeUD825 Jul 2013 The Melbourne Pavilion, FlemingtonWon vacant Australia - Victoria State super lightweight title
5Win4–0–1 Jay ThompsonTKO1/628 Apr 2013 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne
4Win3–0–1 Rangson PoonsangUD621 Feb 2013 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington
3Win2–0–1 Matt BuneTKO2/407 Sep 2012 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington
2Win1–0–1 Justin MedoroTKO2/413 Jul 2012 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington
1Draw0–0–1 Allan Jay TuniacaoD418 May 2012 The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington

Notes and References

  1. News: Fists of fury: Maidana, Froch and Bradley are all winners among the seven greatest fights of 2013. CourierMail. 2016-12-02.
  2. News: Westsider Profiles: Ibrahim and Qamil Balla. The Westsider. 30 January 2021. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Quamil Balla. https://archive.today/20130411121354/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=55787/bio/index.html. dead. 11 April 2013. NBC Beijing 2008. 2 December 2016.
  4. Web site: Promising athletes given a sporting chance - National - theage.com.au. theage.com.au. February 2007 . 2016-12-02.
  5. News: Horn conqueror's 'huge opportunity'. 2017-12-04.
  6. Web site: QAMIL BALLA WINS SUPER-LIGHTWEIGHT CROWN. anbf.org. 2016-12-02.
  7. Web site: Aussie wrap-up for May - Boxing Monthly. Boxing Monthly. en-GB. 2017-12-04.
  8. Web site: Qamil Balla bounces back from injury to take Oceania belt. 2019-05-15. Star Weekly. 2019-07-31.