“I Fight More With Thought” – Halil Amir Says His Fight IQ Will Be Biggest Difference Against Maurice Abevi

Undefeated Turkish star Halil Amir is set for his sophomore outing in ONE Championship this coming weekend – seven months after he capped off a spectacular debut with a knockout for the ages. At ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs. Haggerty this Friday, April 21, the #4-ranked lightweight contender will go to war against Swiss standout Maurice Abevi at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Last September, Amir made headlines in the combat sports world when he put former ONE Lightweight World Title Challenger Timofey Nastyukhin to sleep in the second round of their bout at ONE on Prime Video 2.

Halil Amir would be looking for the kill with his weapons and well-rounded fight game

His victory not only catapulted him directly into the promotion’s lightweight rankings, but it sent a warning to the rest of the stars in the stacked division. The Antalya native is hoping to achieve a similar result in the Thai capital this weekend, and he knows how he wants to do it.

Amir told ONE, “I always come for a finish, so far getting it in all of my fights – mostly by way of knockout. My knees and kicks are my most dangerous weapons.”

While he has showcased his well-rounded skill set throughout his eight-year career, Amir believes his efficiency on the feet has really helped push him to the 8-0 run he is currently enjoying.The Turkish athlete is always looking for the KO, but he admits he doesn’t like to rush to find it. Instead, he prefers to break down his rivals before going in for the kill.

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Amir said, “I’m a very intelligent fighter who picks up the pace as fights go on and wears down his opponents. I am well-rounded, but I’m a striker at heart.”

Halil Amir implied that his high fight IQ will help him inside the cage

Going for a late highlight-reel finish is a risky fight strategy, given an opponent could mount a late comeback. But with three knockout wins in the third round across his eight fights, Amir is confident in his ability to get a late stoppage. The 28-year-old striker will be carrying a wealth of experience against world-class fighters into his meeting with Abevi at ONE Fight Night 9, and he thinks that will show when the Circle doors close.

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Amir added, “Whoever examines my game understands that I fight with my head. That is, I think. I don’t attack directly. Of course, sometimes you do, but I fight more with thought. I don’t mean to say I’m the highest-IQ fighter in the world, but I think my IQ is high.”