Monumental move for boxing in UAE as two Emiratis make debut

Dubai’s stars of tomorrow Fahad Al Bloushi and Sultan Alnuaimi are all set to make professional debuts on Nov.22.

Up to this promising duo taking the stage, their long-time Round 10 Boxing team-mate Majid Al Naqbi (3-0, 1 KO) has been the UAE’s only currently active professional boxer, but now, for the first time in history, the UAE will boast three professional boxers active at the same time.

As preparations continue for the #MTKFightNight -- topped by world-class stars Vijender Singh and Jack Catterall and broadcast live on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank and on iFL TV worldwide, D4G head Ahmed A Seddiqi is delighted with the momentum gathering behind the sport across the UAE.

Seddiqi said: “What a stage this is for Fahad and Sultan. It’s a fantastic occasion and a chance for the whole country to join in the celebration with two potential national sporting heroes.

“I believe both these young men have bright futures in front of them and as well as rise in the rankings quickly, they’re going to provide immediate entertainment with their fan-friendly styles of fighting.

“We are putting Dubai on the map in terms of attracting the best international fighters to come and perform here, and we’re equally delighted to be developing the best local talent and giving them a chance to fly the flag.”

Bloushi — a 23-year-old born and raised in Dubai and of half-Filipino descent — is eager to make his mark in the lightweight division and forecasts great things for the sport in the UAE.

Bloushi said: “This is a big step for sports in the UAE. Sports outside of football have never really got the attention they deserve, and now we can show the country and the world that we do have talented athletes.

“I’m proud to say that this is a stepping stone for us to use our talents further beyond and show the world what the UAE is made of.

“It’s a blessing to be able to start off the right way, in my home country and to showcase my talent to the boxing community and the community of the UAE. I’m more than excited to give me best performance. With the talents that we hold today, I surely believe that there is a bright future for the boxing here. We have the resources and the athletes to match, so it’ll be one of the best places for sure.”

The 26-year-old Alnuaimi, meanwhile, aims to become a super-flyweight star having been a two-time national champion and representative of his beloved UAE many times before opting to join the paid ranks.

Alnuaimi said: “Being a professional boxer representing the UAE is a huge honour that I can’t describe. We can show the world that we are capable of achieving great things and making our nation proud. “This sport has attracted a big following in the region in such a short period of time. It’s growing fast and I can’t wait to show the world what I’m capable of in professional boxing.”

Promising lightweight Naqbi, who has watched the rise of his team-mates with pride, added: “These are two great young fighters who were both national champions.

“We grew up together in boxing. They joined the team the same time as I did. We trained together at Round 10 and started fighting in the amateur ranks through to the national level. We won gold medals. The three of us went to camps together and worked hard together for days. We’ve been through a lot and we were sparring with the Uzbek Olympic team and then travelled to Cuba to train for another 20 days with their team.

“We also gained experience from different countries like Morocco. We’ve been like brothers since day one. We’ve shared a lot of life together and we decided to go professional together. Ahmed A. Seddiqi, our manager, put me with MTK Global and I’m blessed.

“Both Fahad and Sultan continued to study while they trained so it’s been a big challenge for them. They want it so bad and they’ll both be really great champions. I wish them all the best and you’re going to see something good coming up on Nov.22.”