Four world Arab boxing champions set for Dubai
Total of 10 fights scheduled for October 19 Al Wasl Club event
Dubai: Makan Kabouti’s challenge of world champion Farid Idir in the 100kg heavyweight category will be the highlight of the night in the ‘Clash of the Champions’ Arab boxing event to be staged at Al Wasl Club on October 19.
Idir, 27, who represents Belgium, has an impressive record of 23 wins by knockout and will be eager to stop his challenger from Sudan. Kabouti is no stranger to the ring as he has 26 KOs from 29 fights so far.
Besides the heavyweight category highlight, the night will also feature another four bouts involving professional boxers from across the world, along with another five amateur fights.
World champion Samba Bocar of Mauritania faces a challenge from double European champion Tuncay Murate, of Turkey, in the 75kg super middleweight category.
Algeria’s Yacine Berrabah will be the third world champion in the ring as he takes on Italian challenger Anass El Aourarz, who is a double European champion in the 65kg semi-middleweight category.
The fourth fight will also feature a world champion as David Douge of Austria takes on Libya’s Yannis Ladjal in the 71kg middleweight class. The fifth professional fight will see Tunisia’s Touka Sofian face off against Morocco’s Yassin Nrhailat in the 72kg category.
The five amateur fights will involve amateur boxers from the UAE, Sudan, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt and Syria.
The action will get under way with Zalim Roslanov of Russia taking on Mohammad Tah Hassen of Sudan in the featherweight 58kg category, followed by the UAE’s Ahmed Darmaki facing Morocco’s Said Bouhrasi in the semi-middleweight 65kg category.
There will also be an Indian boxer involved as Raj Reddy takes on Mohammad Abdullah of Jordan in the semi-middleweight 68kg category.
The ‘Clash of the Champions’, to be held under the auspices of world governing body FIBA in coordination with the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and Dubai Police’s Anti-Drug campaign, is an attempt to popularise Arab boxing in the region.
“Our thanks go to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and to Dubai Police Chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, for supporting our drive,” said Hedi Sediri, President of the FIBA.
Faisal Al Monai of Alphadomino, organisers of the event, said Dubai is the appropriate place to spread Arab boxing in the region. “For the first time we have challengers from Sudan, Libya and Mauritania and this can only help Arab boxing,” he said.
Juma Bilal Al Suwaidi, Head of Dubai Police Anti-Drug Campaign, urged residents to attend and support the anti-drug awareness campaign.
Hessa Al Kous of Dubai Sports Council announced that professional fighters will share from a total prize pot ranging from $30,000 (Dh110,000) to $1.2 million, while winners in the amateur categories will receive medals.
