Toronto - Sabahan arm-wrestler Michael Ford, 36, better known as Mike from Sabah, pulled off a major upset on November 29 when he defeated renowned Canadian contender Matthieu “The Butcher” Boucher in Toronto to clinch the championship title at the Global Elite Arm-wrestling event.
Competing in a one-on-one Supermatch format, Ford controlled every round, preventing the Canadian champion from securing even a single point.
“This victory is not just for me, but for Malaysia, proving we can compete and win against the best in the world,” Ford said after the match.
The tournament was organised by Global Elite Armwrestling (GEA), in collaboration with the Major Armwrestling Championship (MAC). GEA served as the event’s main promoter and sponsor, while MAC provided the competition tables and standardised rules. Under the Supermatch format, each duel was a pre-arranged 1v1 pairing, with athletes knowing their opponents in advance.
The event drew a strong international lineup, with participants arriving from Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Latvia, Slovakia, the United States, and New Zealand. It also featured high-profile arm-wrestling names, including rising talent Milo Larratt and heavyweights such as Alex Kurdecha, Maayan Shtrengas, and Alex Beziaykov. Well-known figures like Erik Fahlgren and Coach Ray were also among the world-class competitors in attendance.
Already recognised as a world-level athlete, Ford adds this latest championship to his growing list of achievements, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s rising elite.