Dutch-Moroccan ‘physically unfit to compete’ after failing to make weight for kickboxing bout in Doha

Ilias Ennahachi’s ONE Championship kickboxing fight with Petchtanong has been removed from Thursday night’s ONE 171 card in Doha, Qatar.

The 28-year-old Dutch Moroccan Ennahachi passed a hydration test on his second attempt but failed to make weight for the bantamweight bout at Wednesday’s official weigh-ins – even coming in over the catchweight limit at 153 pounds.

He later made it down to 151.5 pounds outside of the official three-hour window, and his Thai opponent Petchtanong accepted a catchweight – plus a percentage of Ennahachi’s fight purse.

The pair faced off at the ceremonial weigh-ins on Wednesday evening at Lusail Sports Arena. But the former ONE flyweight kickboxing champion Ennahachi pulled out of the fight on Thursday morning.

“Ilias withdrew from the fight versus Petchtanong due to being physically unfit to compete,” a statement from ONE said.

“As a result, the fight was cancelled. However, Petchtanong will still receive the agreed-upon fight purse.”

Former bantamweight kickboxing champion Petchtanong was looking to earn a crack at reclaiming his old belt with victory in Doha.

“I’m not sure what happened. Hopefully Ilias will be OK,” Petchtanong told the Bangkok Post. “Health is the most important thing.”

Petchtanong’s last fight also fell through after the weigh-ins, when he failed to pass hydration for a bantamweight kickboxing fight with Nabil Anane at December’s ONE Fight Night 26 card.

The 39-year-old ended up going to the hospital in Bangkok, and Anane later visited him at his home after he was released from care.