Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian arm-wrestler Michael Ford (36) @Mike from Sabah delivered a major upset on November 29, defeating decorated Canadian opponent Matthieu ‘The Butcher’ Boucher in Toronto to claim the championship at the Global Elite Arm-wrestling event.
Ford’s victory over the 39-year-old Quebec and former National champion marked a significant highlight for Malaysian arm-wrestling on the world stage.
He was the sole representative from Asia at the international competition, secured a decisive 3-0 victory in the best-of-five Supermatch, stunning the crowd at The Great Canadian Casino and Resort.
The event, which followed a one-on-one Supermatch format, saw Ford dominate his opponent through all three rounds, leaving the Canadian champion unable to score a single win.
“This victory is not just for me, but for Malaysia, proving we can compete and win against the best in the world,” Ford stated following the match.
The competition was hosted by Global Elite Armwrestling (GEA) and held in conjunction with Major Armwrestling Championship (MAC). GEA was the primary promoter and financier of the event, which utilised MAC’s tables and standard rules.
The Supermatch format means all contests were pre-arranged 1v1 bouts, ensuring that athletes were aware of their specific opponents before competing.
The tournament attracted a fierce international field, with athletes traveling from countries including Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Latvia, Slovakia, the USA, and New Zealand.
The event also showcased top-tier talent, drawing international arm-wrestling legends, including rising star Milo Larratt, and heavyweights like Alex Kurdecha, Maayan Shtrengas, and Alex Beziaykov.
Ford’s win was achieved against a world-class backdrop that also featured notable names such as Erik Fahlgren and Coach Ray.
Ford, a world-level athlete in the sport, added the latest title to his growing list of accomplishments, further solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s upcoming elite arm-wrestlers.
