Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim wins boxing bout at Thomastown

One of Melbourne’s biggest underworld identities spoke to the crowd after returning to the boxing ring less than a year after being riddled with bullets.

Sam Abdulrahim won the WBC Australiasian Title less than a year after being shot eight times.

One of Melbourne’s biggest underworld identities has made a successful return to the boxing ring less than a year after being riddled with bullets at a funeral.

Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim addressed the crowd after his win.

Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim dominated his first fight back in the ring at Thomastown’s Q-room late on Saturday night, defeating Fijian Filimoni Naliva Jr to claim the WBC Asia Pacific Title.

The crowd gathered at Thomastown’s Q-room for the fight.

The ex-Mongols bikie — after a stunning first-round TKO in just over two-and-a-half minutes — thanked his friends, family and associates for supporting him back into the ring.

“11 months ago, I couldn’t walk, I’ve come a long way, I’ve done it,” he said after his fight.

“I pushed through for my daughter and my family... I couldn’t do it without you.”

Many came to watch the Punisher’s comeback fight.

Among the crowd, which was littered with uniformed and plainclothes police officers, were some of Melbourne’s biggest and most notorious names.

Many of Abdulrahim’s former Mongols OMCG associates were there to cheer his every hook and jab, including the notorious Toby Mitchell and Mark Balsillie.

Dozens of officers from the VIPER task force, which work to tackle organised crime across the city, ensured the crowd remained under control both inside the venue and out.

Toby Mitchell was there to cheer on Abdulrahim on.

The return comes after Abdulrahim — who is undefeated from seven professional fights — was shot eight times while he sat in his Mercedes-Benz G-class during his cousin’s funeral procession in Fawkner in June last year.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition before a photo of his bullet-ridden chest emerged online.

Police kept a close watch.

Two men, then 19, are believed to have fled to the Middle East in the days after the shooting.

In December last year, Victoria Police obtained warrants to arrest two men wanted over Abdulrahim’s attempted murder.