Michael Kaplan was too strong for Ade Rachman Ortega.
Camera IconMichael Kaplan was too strong for Ade Rachman Ortega. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Thunderdome 21: Michael Kaplan donates winnings to Princess Margaret Hospital

Tyler BrownJoondalup Times

A JOONDALUP-based martial arts instructor has tested his might in the boxing ring, coming away with his first professional win last month.

Ballajura’s Michael ‘Bullet’ Kaplan, a coach at ATI Martial Arts, fought at Thunderdome 21 at Metro City on July 14, beating his international opponent, Ade Rachman Ortega from Indonesia.

It was a unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 40-34.

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ATI director Rocco Capolingua said Kaplan had been preparing for the fight for the past three months.

“Coming from a taekwondo background, winning a boxing bout is a big deal, so winning a professional boxing bout is a great achievement and testament to his training and mental toughness,” he said.

Following the fight, Kaplan said he would donate his $1000 prize money to Princess Margaret Hospital.

“I fought four rounds to win; some of these kids fight their whole life to win,” he said.

Capolingua said Kaplan taught kids from as young as three so “helping children is in his nature”.

“A qualified primary school teacher, open world taekwondo champion and now 0-1 boxing champion, Michael believes that his true win is helping others less fortunate than him and the children he teaches,” he said,

“Donating profits from his fight purse to PMH is another example of his modest and respectful nature, exactly what ATI Martial Arts develop in each student.”