Mehdi Zatout Ends Retirement, to fight Zuhayr Al-Qahtani at ONE 166: Qatar

02 February 2024

The Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar is set to host an enticing catchweight boxing bout as part of ONE Championship's monumental debut in the nation. On Friday, March 1, the highly-regarded Algerian striker, Mehdi “Diamond Heart” Zatout, will make a remarkable return from retirement to face Saudi Arabian star Zuhayr “The Arabian Warrior” Al-Qahtani in a 147-pound boxing showdown at ONE 166: Qatar.

Zatout, a former ISKA and WBC Muay Thai World Champion, boasts an impressive six-fight career within ONE Championship, competing in both Muay Thai and kickboxing. In 2021, he came close to championship glory by challenging Thai knockout artist “One Punch Man” Capitan Petchyindee for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title. Although Zatout fell short in that contest, his gritty performance gained him a global fan base. In October 2022, at ONE Fight Night 3 on Prime Video, “Diamond Heart” delivered a dominating first-round TKO victory against American standout Asa Ten Pow under Muay Thai rules.

Despite signaling his retirement by leaving his gloves in the Circle after the win, the resilient 40-year-old Zatout is now prepared to return and face the challenge posed by one of the region’s top prizefighters.

Zuhayr Al-Qahtani, with an unblemished 9-0 professional boxing record and a WBC Middle Eastern Championship, stands as one of Saudi Arabia’s boxing pioneers. As the first fighter from the country to forge a career in professional boxing, the 34-year-old trailblazer will bring a wealth of experience into the contest and seek to make a resounding statement against Zatout.

For Zatout, a victory over a respected competitor like Al-Qahtani, especially in his opponent's professional boxing debut, would add a fitting chapter to an already remarkable career. The clash at ONE 166: Qatar promises to be a compelling showdown between two accomplished fighters from different corners of the combat sports world.