Abu Dhabi: The first professional fight night in the capital failed to attract much of a crowd, but it was the start many boxers in the UAE have waited a long time for and it could well shape the sport’s future in the country.
Lion Heart Productions should be credited for setting up a professional arena to go with the professional boxers. The lights, music and ring card girls added colour to the occasion, and the UAE boxers put up some strong displays.
The fight of the evening was the grudge match between Dubai-based Abdul Kabbani and Mohammad Ali Bayat. The cruiserweights were involved in a war of words even before the start of the event as Kabbani, who suffered his only loss against Bayat in a controversial points verdict two years ago, was looking for some payback. However, Bayat won the fight in four rounds.
Kabbani started aggressively, but Bayat stayed patient and jabbed his way through the first two rounds. He gained control in the third as Kabbani tired and, in the next round, was able to unleash blows at will. Though Kabbani stood his ground to the end and made it back to the corner, his manager called it quits to hand Bayat his fourth win.
“I’m glad that I won the bout,” said the 24-year-old, who needs three more fights to graduate into WBC Asia. “There were a lot of things said behind my back and many felt I was lucky in the first win against Kabbani.
“We live in the same country and I have a lot of respect for Kabbani. I’m a gentle guy outside the ring. Lots of gratitude to all my trainers and my father, who couldn’t make it as we lost a family member.
“I have trained with the best — I trained with David Haye in England for two weeks. Everyone would have realised that I’m a changed fighter from two years ago.”
The event also ended a five-year wait for a debut for Emirati boxer Ahmad Al Ali, who looked nervous and out-of-sorts early in the first round against another debutant, Mohammad Abbas, of Egypt, in the welterweight category.
Al Ali weathered a standing count early on but then got going. He was eventually declared victorious after Abbas was disqualified for not heeding repeated warnings for head-butting his opponent.
“I’m feeling very good,” said the 24-year-old Adnoc engineer, who is hoping to take up boxing full-time. “I’m not happy with my performance but happy that I won. I made my family and country proud and I’m happy about that.
“The first round was not easy as people were talking in the crowd and I couldn’t concentrate on what my coach was saying.”
