Dubai’s Knockout Night promises to pack a punch

Weigh-ins for Dubai’s latest adrenaline pumping event in boxing and kickboxing, the Knockout Night showcasing the very best of international and regional boxers and kickboxers, was held at The Penthouse FIVE Palm Jumeirah on Thursday.

A premium lifestyle hotel, FIVE Palm Jumeirah have joined forces with Two Division World Champion Badou Jack Promotions to present this landmark event to be held on Friday that will also feature local fighters, including Majid Al Nagbi and Saudi Arabia’s Julaidan Abdulfatah.

Friday’s star-studded event will bring together 30 martial arts specialists for 15 bouts of high-energy fights and a celebrity audience including YouTube sensation KSI and British professional boxer Amir Iqbal Khan.

The VIP night will host 12 bouts of boxing, including the undefeated Cruiserweight Viddal Riley versus “UAE Boxer of the Year” Mo Ali Bayat, and five bouts of kick-boxing, including five-time Muay Thai World Champion, Atakan Arslan, versus Christos Avramidis.

The Persian power-puncher, Mo Ali is no stranger to UAE fight fans. His unconventional boxing career started with the wish for a healthy life but turned into profession soon after winning his first fight by knockout. At the age of just 24, Ali was already a WKBF World Champion and WKBF Pan Asian Champion. He currently holds a record of 12 wins, 1 loss and 12 knockouts, as well as earning the title of “UAE Boxer of the Year”.

Just recently, he won an 8-man tournament and became Grand Prix Champion.

Mo Ali’s opponent on the night, Riley from the UK, is a 21-year-old multi-talented boxer, who recently started his professional career, but whom the world has already started taken notice of.

With 2 wins and 2 knockouts, Riley is already a force to be reckoned with in the cruiserweight division.  Riley boasts an impressive amateur record of 41 wins with 19 knockouts, becoming a five-time English champion and three-time GB champion.

In just his 2nd bout, he fought on the mega card of Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner, scoring a devastating 1st round knockout in just 33 seconds.

Outside the ring, he is known as celebrity personal trainer for YouTube star Olajide Olatunji aka KSI.

Another of the big names to enter the ring on Friday is Atakan ‘Avatar’ Arslan. The five-time Muay Thai World Champion is a knockout specialist in kickboxing and Muay Thai.

He boasts an incredible record of 58 wins, 8 losses and 51 knockouts. Outside the ring, Atakan won the “Survivor” show in Turkey and is one of the most well-known up and coming actors.

Boxing fans will be able to feel the sweat and adrenaline first hand from 7PM at FIVE Palm Jumeirah’s stunning Vista Ballroom.

Speaking ahead of the weigh-ins, Aloki Batra, CEO FIVE Hotel, said, “Knockout Night at FIVE is set to be one of the most exciting nights in Dubai’s social calendar. In partnership with Badou Jack Promotions, we have bought together some of the world’s best boxers and kickboxers with a VIP audience for a night of adrenalin-filled entertainment.”

Meanwhile, Amer Abdallah, CEO of Badou Jack Promotions, added: “Knockout Night at FIVE is Badou Jack Promotions’ first event in the UAE and we’re really excited to showcase the very best of international and regional boxers and kickboxers. We’re proud to host local fighters including Majid Al Nagbi and Saudi Arabia’s Julaidan Abdulfatah.”

Friday’s main card:

• Viddal Riley vs Mo Ali

• Rohan Date vs Wanphihit Siriphana

• Majid Al Naqbi vs Sandeep Duggal

• Julaidan Abdulfatah vs Ahmed Dawrani

• Faze Sensei vs Giorgos Veronis

• Fatih Ulusoy vs Junior Kabbani

• Anthony De Jubin vs Pushkar Pundalik

• Usman Wazeer vs Brahim Oubenais

• Atakan Arslan vs Christos Avramidis

• Ashley Theophane vs Narong Bunchan

• Ross Levine vs Stelios Tasmalidis

• Oscar Ahlin vs Arthit Bunphloeng

• Bryce Mills vs Antonis Stroutzalis