Two professional boxers from the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) were victorious in their British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA) fights held at the Rich Energy Arena in Aberdeen at the end of March.
Middleweight Sugar Atahasan took on Marty Kayes and won a unanimous points decision, while Hebun Noyan knocked out Andy Goy in the first round of their Cruiserweight contest at the BIBA fight night on Saturday, 30 March.
Noyan, who made his professional debut in Aberdeen, was described as a “class operator” by boxing commentator and BIBA official recorder Gianluca Di Caro as he tore into his opponent Goy from the opening bell.
Regarded “as tough as they come” according to Di Caro, Goy had “let rip with some big shots” of his own, but Noyan “kept his cool” and bided his time, sending Goy crashing to the canvas at the end of the first minute of their planned 4-round bout.
Goy rose and carried on fighting, but Noyan intensified his assault, resulting in his Nottingham-born opponent going down for a second time a minute later. As Goy tried to stand up again, it was clear to the referee he was in no fit state to continue and the fight was stopped early in the third minute.
Next up was Atahasan. His 4-round Middleweight bout against Belfast boxer Kayes was his third as a professional and fourth representing the TRNC.
Kayes was the more aggressive from the opening bell, allowing him to secure the middle ground and forcing Atahasan on the back foot, but the Turkish Cypriot adapted his tactics and was able to “wrestle control away from the Irishman,” wrote Di Caro.
As the bout continued, it was Atahasan who was able “to exert his authority” on the fight, resulting in a 40-36 points victory. Atahasan’s victory against Kayes boosts his ranking and goes towards qualifying for a title fight.
Both TRNC boxers were supported by Serdar Ozkan a professional coach affiliated with BIBA-TRNC, and their success against seasoned professionals will open doors for more international bouts featuring Turkish Cypriot fighters.
Sugar’s father Ismail ‘Issy’ Atahasan said that the response to the two boxers’ success in Aberdeen had been “fantastic”.
“These two boxers and sports people like them are putting the TRNC on the world map of sport despite the embargoes. I and everyone, in the Turkish Cypriot communities at home and abroad are extremely proud of them for flying our flag.”
Sugar Atahasan is not only a professional boxer, but also a professional boxing coach who has his own boxing academy in the TRNC capital Lefkoşa, with a new venue set to open soon in Girne.
As President of BIBA-TRNC, Atahasan was able to arrange his and Noyan to be on the BIBA Aberdeen card. Both fighters are hoping to line up their next international opponents soon, while Atahasan is currently planning to stage a professional boxing show in the TRNC later this summer.
