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SportHong Kong

‘My leg is itching,’ says Hong Kong-based Alan ‘The Panther’ Ngalani as new kickboxing promotion sees him reunited with deadly weapon

The 42-year-old will compete in the freshly launched One Championship Kickboxing super league in a return to the stand-up style of fighting that brought him four Muay thai world titles

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Hong Kong-based Alain ‘The Panther’ Ngalani is preparing for a return to action. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Mathew Scott

Alain Ngalani has a warning for the world of combat sports. The Panther Kick is coming back.

“My leg is itching,” said the Hong Kong fighter. “Everybody better watch out.”

The 42-year-old has been among the star signings for the freshly launched Asia-wide One Championship Kickboxing super league, a move that will see Ngalani return to the stand-up style of fighting that brought him four Muay thai world titles and a record of 25-7-1 overall in kickboxing.

Many of those wins came via Ngalani’s trademark move, a devastating spinning kick that focused all the man’s might – driven by around 104kgs packed into 180cms – bang on to the point of impact.

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Since turning his attentions to mixed martial arts in 2013, the move has hardly been seen. But fight fans (and future foes) should get ready to say hello – once again – to Ngalani’s little friend.

“In MMA it has been a bit frustrating because everybody knows my history, they know my kick, so they have just been trying to take me down to the ground,” said Ngalani. “I knew that would happen and I knew that would be a challenge.

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“I love trying something new. If you are not learning what is life? But you can say that I will be happy to bring back my favourite move. Definitely you will see The Panther Kick again. Very soon.”

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