Dubai: Emirati welterweight Eisa Al Dah has vowed to continue with his planned comeback despite his first fight in three years being cancelled at the last minute on Friday.
The Arabian Warrior, 36, was due to fight Mexico’s Cesar Soriano over six rounds in the headline fight of Glory 20, an 11-card bout at Dubai World Trade Centre. However, Soriano, 37, was apparently denied a visa to the UAE at Dubai International Airport.
Soriano’s no-show was the second setback Al Dah had suffered after his first planned opponent for this bout was ruled out on medical grounds.
“At first we had planned to fight the UK’s Kevin Hanks but he got knocked out in his last fight and, as per rules and regulations, he now can’t fight for two months,” said Al Dah, who has a record of eight wins in 10 career bouts since 2007.
“Then we found a replacement in Cesar Soriano but, for some reason, he was stopped at the airport as he tried to enter the country. We tried to find someone locally at the last minute, who was my weight and who could put on a good show for the fans, but unfortunately we couldn’t find an opponent.
“It’s disappointing because I had trained very hard for this fight,” added Al Dah, who took a three-year hiatus to start his own gym — EMD Fitness Gym in Jumairah Three’s Sunset Mall.
Thanks to his business interests, he now plans to fight more often without having to rely on the backing of sponsors. And he claims that’s still the case despite this initial setback.
“I have two fights confirmed, one in San Diego, California, on May 8 and another as an undercard to Amir Khan’s next fight against Chris Algieri, in New York on May 30. I’m ready to give it my all.
“I’m sorry to UAE fight fans but I plan to continue my comeback and hope to put on a good show in the UAE soon,” added Al Dah, who has also claimed he’s only “two or three years away” from fighting a world title fight at 12 rounds.
Glory 20 went ahead as planned at Dubai World Trade Centre on Friday despite Al Dah’s omission from the card.
