Desaru Coast and Boxxtomoi Asia Unveil Coastal Combat 2026
26 November 2025, Desaru Coast, Johor, Malaysia: Desaru Coast, in collaboration with Boxxtomoi Asia, is set to supercharge Malaysia’s sports and entertainment scene with Coastal Combat 2026, an international Muaythai sporting weekend in January kicks-off the destination’s events calendar for 2026 and serves as an early highlight of the Visit Johor 2026 campaign. The new bold sports tourism initiative cements Desaru Coast’s standing as a multi-sport and events destination in the region.
Combining the thrill of combat sports with the beauty of a coastal resort setting, Coastal Combat 2026 showcases Desaru Coast’s capability to host international sporting events and festivals, corporate gatherings and coastal destination experiences within a single, integrated venue. Designed as a family-friendly weekend festival, the event will also feature markets, activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages underscoring Desaru Coast’s strength as an events and MICE destination with broad appeal.
The press conference announced the official lineup of fighters from five countries for the highly anticipated Coastal Combat 2026 main event, scheduled for the weekend of 23–24 January 2026. With the event expected to reach up to 300,000 viewers on YouTube, it will further showcase Desaru Coast and Johor as premier destinations for regional sports tourism. The initiative aligns with the Visit Johor 2026 campaign’s goal to position Johor as a key driver for sports tourism and international events, reinforcing Desaru Coast’s reputation as a dynamic hub for sports, lifestyle and business.
“As we move into Visit Johor 2026, Coastal Combat signals a bold new direction for Desaru Coast. We have already established our credentials through global events like L’Etape by Tour de France for two years and the ongoing Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN, which continue to attract participants from Europe, the Middle East and across ASEAN. Now, we are extending that momentum into combat sports. With our integrated venue and hospitality infrastructure, Desaru Coast is ready to become the region’s notable stage for international multi-sport and MICE events.”- Izrin Hashim, Chief Executive Officer, Desaru Coast.
“Coastal Combat is an important step for Muaythai in Malaysia. As the national governing body, Persatuan Muaythai Malaysia supports efforts that lift our athletes, build a stronger talent pathway, and help Malaysian Muaythai grow on the international stage. What Boxxtomoi Asia has built is not just another event. It is a sanctioned and structured platform that looks to the future and fits with our commitment to integrity, athlete welfare, and long-term development. This partnership marks a new chapter for Malaysian Muaythai, where sport, professionalism, and national pride move forward together”.
— Datuk Paduka Shahnaz Azmi, President Muaythai Malaysia Association
“Coastal Combat 2026 is more than a fight event. It is an officially sanctioned programme under Persatuan Muaythai Malaysia (PMM), and that endorsement matters because it sets a new standard for how Muaythai should be presented, governed, and elevated. Our collaboration with PMM and Persatuan Muaythai Negeri Johor ensures every aspect, from athlete safety to competition integrity, meets the highest national requirements. We are bringing Muaythai into a new era. The reality show format combines sport, storytelling, and destination tourism in a way Malaysia has never produced before. Viewers will not only see fighters compete; they will follow their journey, their discipline, and the cultural experience of Desaru
Coast. This is the evolution of Muaythai an entertainment product with real sporting value and real economic impact for Johor. We are setting a benchmark for sport tourism, and we intend to push the industry forward.” – Nor Afandi Nor Hosni, Boxxtomoi Asia
The event featured an exclusive first look at the highly anticipated four-episode Coastal Combat Desaru Coast 2026 Series, a dynamic sports reality programme filmed across some of Desaru Coast’s most scenic resorts. The series captured the intensity of training, the personalities of the athletes and the destination’s unique appeal as a coastal sports hub.
Attendees also witnessed athlete introductions, beach sports challenges and destination showcase activities designed to highlight Desaru Coast’s versatility as a signature venue for both sporting and tourism experiences. These activities reflected the destination’s commitment to elevating coastal and outdoor sports as part of its growing sports tourism offerings.
As the first major sports highlight of Visit Johor 2026, Coastal Combat attracted national and international attention, featuring professional Muaythai matches that celebrated skill, endurance and sportsmanship. Beyond the ring, the event underscored Desaru Coast’s growing role as Malaysia’s premier host for multisport and MICE events, supported by globally recognised resorts, venues and seamless destination infrastructure.
From coastal endurance races to golf tournaments, watersports festivals and now combat sports, Desaru Coast continued to evolve as a versatile stage for global events — where competition meets collaboration, and sports meet the coast.
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