Al Dah dedicates comprehensive third-round victory to his father

Dubai: The UAE's only professional boxer, Eisa Al Dah, dedicated Friday night's third round knock-out of Spain's Ignacio Cabellero Pares to his country and his father Mohammad, who passed away last month.

‘The Arabian Warrior' won the UAE World Championship belt only 27 seconds into the third round of the headline fight of the six-card Dubai International Boxing Championship at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Entering with a record of eight fights, six wins (three by KO) and two losses, welterweight Al Dah, 32, made light work of ‘Loco' Pares, aged 28 of Girona, Catalunya, flooring him twice with right hooks inside the first round and a neat right upper cut in the second.

The fourth and final knockdown, early in the third of this eight round bout, came from a fast left-right combo which left the Spaniard unable to find his feet inside the count. Ignacio's record now reads nine fights, five wins all by KO and now four consecutive losses.

"I just stuck to the plan, kept close to him stayed busy and didn't waste my energy," said Al Dah. "It's no surprise that I downed him four times. I have the speed and power to stick my neck out. I just want to use my skill more to become more confident in the ring and relax."

Al Dah, who hadn't fought in the UAE since 2008, added: "I'm looking in the future to develop myself to the highest level, go 12 rounds and stage a big fight in the UAE for a world title in two or three years — it won't come overnight.

"I'm not saying it will be against Manny Pacquaio or Amir Khan but it will be something that I can be proud of. After that I can take care of the kids who want to enter the game."

Pares, who got so set-back by Al Dah's body shots in the second that he picked the Emirati up by his legs and performed an illegal pile-drive, said: "I was thinking I'd have an easy fight but that big right hand was too strong. He was a very hard puncher. They have a pretty good fighter. I did everything I could."

Tough fighter

Al Dah's coach, Anthony Wilson, said: "As well as that right hook, he had a vicious body attack going on, but in the early rounds he wasn't using it — the opponent was strong and gutsy but Eisa was too tough for him.

"He still has a lot to learn, now it's back to the drawing board in the gym to work on conditioning, sparring and bringing his weight down by shedding the body fat. He'll come back in April looking sharper and much leaner down to his proper weight division [junior lightweight].

"Everything is a process and it will take time."

Of his father, who died on January 20 of a kidney problem, Al Dah said: "I never considered postponing this fight after my father's death, this is what he would have wanted.

"He would want to see me fulfil my dreams."

Wilson added: "If you can overcome something like he just did with his father and still have the mentality to get back into the ring, that's a true champion right there."