Akram Hamidi Found Peace With His Family Before Returning To Face Watcharaphon
For the better part of two years, Akram Hamidi stepped away from the sport that had consumed his life. He is convinced that time away made him sharper, and happier.
The three-time ISKA Kickboxing World Champion returns to the ring in the strawweight Muay Thai main event of ONE Friday Fights 164, where he meets Watcharaphon Laochokcharoen this Friday, July 31, inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Hamidi’s hiatus began shortly after a knockout loss to Muay Thai legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in September 2024. That defeat sits alongside a decision loss to reigning ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion Prajanchai PongSuphan PK as the only blemishes on his ONE record, both against the division’s gold standard.
Rather than rush back into the ring, the French-Algerian chose to step away entirely.
“After the fight with Sam-A, I took the opportunity to take a long break,” Hamidi said. “I lost, but that’s not a problem because I got to share the ring with a legend – a champion of that level – which is a win-win situation.
“During my break, I still did light training to maintain my physical condition. But mostly I spent time with my family. Over the past 10 years, I’ve had to fight every two months, so it was really difficult to find time for my family, or even just to see them face to face.”
A decade of fighting every two months had left little room for anything else. Hamidi insists that time away finally let him catch up with what mattered most.
“Getting to rest for a year and a half without any fight pressure, it was like being able to take a full deep breath again,” he said. “It helped me recover both physically and mentally, completely. I feel really fit. I feel ready now. This time I’m back hungrier than ever.”
Hamidi returns against an opponent riding a five-fight winning streak in ONE, though he insists the extended reset has left him unbothered by reputations. A US$100,000 main roster contract awaits the winner.
“I’m not worried about his winning streak at all,” Hamidi said. “And I never underestimate anyone. I take every fight seriously, I give my all in camp, and then I fight in my own style.”
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