ABU DHABI (May 20, 2024) – One of pro boxing’s most promising prospects, Indian welterweight Faizan Anwar (17-0, 9 KOs), will be showcased once again this Saturday in the fourth edition of the popular “Rising Stars Arabia (RSA) series, at Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“Rising Stars Arabia 4” is promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and hosted in Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
The 22-year-old Anwar, whose goal is to be India’s first world champion in professional boxing, puts his perfect record on the line Saturday against 2017 French National Champion Murali Erdogan (15-2, 1 KO) in a 10-round main event. A slick boxer who was the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in his native India, Anwar moved to Dubai five years ago to enhance his prizefighting career as a valued member of Round 10 Boxing.
He started boxing in 2007, primarily to lose weight and be healthy, but the “Sweet Science” became his passion, and now he’s positioning himself to become the greatest India-born male boxer of all-time.
“I came to Dubai in 2019,” Anwar explained. “Coming to Dubai was always one of my dreams because there are more opportunities in Dubai for professional boxers than for me at home in India. Middle East countries have become the hub of boxing and other combat sports.
“I was proud to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound pro boxer in India. It was amazing to see my name at the top of that list with some veterans behind me who I looked up to when I was an amateur. My target isn’t just to be No. 1 in India, but to be on top globally, and soon it will be. I want to be the first Indian (male) to be world champion (in pro ranks).”
Vijender Singh, arguably India’s No. 1 male boxer, is somebody Anwar modeled himself after as well as a major influence during his boxing career.
“He (Singh) was a role model for me in boxing,” Anwar said. “I remember watching him on television in the Olympics (2008 bronze medalist). I was influenced by that, and I said to myself, one day, I would represent India on a big platform.”
Fighting on the “Rising Stars Arabia” series is an invaluable experience for Anwar, who knocked out Abdumonem Said in the opening round this past March in RSA3, and the slick southpaw is looking forward to extending his unbeaten streak to 18 in a row with a victory over Erdogan.
“If (RSA series) is an amazing platform,” Anwar remarked. “It’s great for us young fighters to showcase our talents worldwide. I’m happy to be part of it.
“Me and my coaches have watched videos of Erdogan’s fights. I’m not underestimating him. He is strong, fast and technical. We have a plan for him that everyone will see May 25th. This will be a classic boxing match that may go the distance but, if a knockout happens, good, and if not we will keep it simple.”
Anwar vs. Erdogan is one of four matches to be streamed live, starting at 8 pm UAEST (9 am ET), on DAZN and ESPN Knockout, which will include a pair of Arab boxers, lightweight Bader “The Master” Al-Dherat (10-0, 8 KOs) and super flyweight Sultan Al Nuami (11-0, 7 KOs), who are driven to extend their undefeated streaks and their respective legacies.
Al-Dherat, 23, was the first pro boxer in his native Jordan, but he also relocated to Dubai to improve his training and sparring. He headlines RSA4 in the 10-round main event versus Orlando Mosquera (13-2-1, 2 KOs), the former International Boxing Federation (IBF), who is 10-1-1 in his last 12 fights.
Al Nuaimi, representing the United Arab Emirates, is matched against Muhsin Kizota (20-4, 12 KOs), of Tanzania, in a 10-rounder. Al Nuaimi was a two-time national champion as an amateur and he also became the first boxer in UAE history to win a bout in the Asian Games.
In the 10-round, co-featured event, Moroccan super featherweight Moussa Gholam (21-1, 13 KOs) plans to continue his march back into the prestigious top 15 world ratings with an impressive performance against his Chinese opponent, Lingjie Xia (9-0-2, 2 KOs), a former Asian Continental Lightweight Champion. Gholam is a former World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth silver and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Champion.
Super featherweight Fahad “Kid Emirati” Al Bloushi (14-1, 3 KOs), the UAE’s most experienced pro boxer, rides a 13-fight win stream into his eight-round bout with Tanzania’s Ibrahim “The Puncher” Makubi (11-2-1, 6 KOs).
Unbeaten Egyptian welterweight Marwan Mohamad Madboly (3-0, 2 KOs) faces a much more experienced rival, Filipino brawler Rimar “Terminator” Metuda (17-8-1, 11 KOs), in a six-round fight. Madboy’s fellow countryman, super featherweight Mostafa Mohammad Fahmi Komsan (2-0, 2 KOs), meets Hamza Rguibi (2-1, 1 KO), of Morocco, in another six-round confrontation.
Two other six-round bouts are on tap as Ugandan lightweight “King “ Fahad Mulindwa (7-4, 3 KOs) fights Mohamed Salah Abdelghany (4-4, 0 KOs), of Egypt, and Lebanese super middleweight Nadim Salloum (12-2, 6 KOs) clashes with C Lalhruaitluanga (7-1, 3 KOs), of India.
Also fighting on the undercard in four-round matches is Kuwait super welterweight Eissa Eidan (1-0, 0 KOs) vs. Pakistan’s Shahzada Sohail (0-4), and Syrian heavyweight Kenan Marai (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Afghanistan’s pro-debuting Ahmadzai Abdulahi (1-1, 1 KO).
Card subject to change.
The RASA series is the first of its kind in terms of showcasing the exciting potential of the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as emerging boxing hubs, and sanctioned by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission, headed by Jose Mohen.
AAM Seddiqi Sports has been promoting and managing boxers in this region for 10 years. It boasts a growing stable of more than 30 gifted regional and global talents. Its events have included five world title shows, broadcast globally on ESPN, Sky Sports, and other major networks.
Tickets to “Rising Stars Arabia 4” are on sale and available to purchase at https://rsa.seddiqiboxing.com/tickets.
Leading up to the Saturday’s event, fans may find updates on the AAM Seddiqi Sports Instagram channel @risingstars, @seddiqiboxing and on www.seddiqiboxing.com.
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