Dubai: There were many reasons for believing that UAE champion Eisa Al Dah would win his second professional fight when he took on American journeyman David Love at the Dubai International Convention Centre late Friday night.
A solid preparation, renewed confidence, and above all, a steel will to triumph in front of his home fans all bonded to bring out the best in the fighter they call the 'Arabian Warrior.'
Al Dah was the aggressor from the outset and wasted no time asserting his superiority over Love.
Less than a minute into the light welterweight fight, he had his opponent in trouble with his left-right combinations.
The American, who had lost his two last fights, looked vulnerable and technically ill-equipped to cope with the bullish Emarati.
Love made a half-hearted attempt to take the fight to Al Dah, throwing punches that filed to worry him
Less than 2 minutes and 31 seconds into the first round the Emirati fighter staggered the American with a right and then knocked him down with a powerful left to the midriff.
The American was counted out as wild celebrations broke out in the auditorium.
Al Dah is now 2-0, both first-round KOs while Love dropped to 1-4.
Al Dah is the only professional boxer in the UAE and attracted close to 3,000 fans to the Shaikh Rashid Hall at the Dubai International Convention Centre.
The main event of the night's four-fight card pitched former world champion Michael Moorer, now 40, against 35-year-old Shelby Gross from South Carolina.
Moorer, who battered and bruised Evander Holyfield to win a 12-round, 3-2 majority decision in 1994, to claim the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion-ship belts, knocked Gross down twice in thirty two seconds.
The second blow that put Gross flat on his back was a lead right uppercut.
Moorer improves to 52-4-1 while Gross drops to 16-4.
In the night's opening contest, undefeated 24-year-old American JD 'The Natural' Chapman knocked out Rich Boruff in1:17secs of the second round with a left hook and straight right combination.
Chapman, easily the more dominant fighter, had earlier dropped Boruff, 36, in the first round. Both Moorer and Chapman won gold and diamond rings, each representing a different emirate of the UAE.
American Arthur Cook soaked in some powerful punches from the Czech Republic's Onderj Pala before the referee called a stop to the fight in 1.28second into the eight round.
Cook protested the decision, saying he was okay, but the decision was not reversed.
The fight was staged by Jesse Robinson Sports Services together with Hirsch Borao Promotions.
