Rising Stars Arabia (RSA), the first fighting series of its kind in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is set to host a milestone event on September 9th at Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena, promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and sponsored by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
The new series will be a game-changer in the Arab boxing world, providing a platform to showcase the best of Arab boxing talent to international and regional audiences.
“Seddiqi Sports has pioneered the sport in the region, and we recently celebrated our 10-year anniversary of opening Round 10 boxing club in the UAE,” AAM Seddiqi Sports Founder Ahmed A. Seddiqi said.
“It’s time to show the world that in addition to hosting major events in the region, we also have homegrown talents that can perform at the highest level of boxing and become superstars of the sport. We are proud to host this monumental boxing event in Abu Dhabi and would like to thank DCT Abu Dhabi for believing in us and putting its trust in the RSA platform.”
Sanctioned by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission, the RSA event will be broadcasted live on regional and international platforms such as Abu Dhabi Sports TV and ESPN Knockout, further bolstering Abu Dhabi’s reputation as the combat sports capital of the Arabian Peninsula.
“The arrival of Rising Stars Arabia in the emirate further cements Abu Dhabi’s status as a regional hub for combat sports and other major athletic events and franchises,” commented HE Saleh Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi. We remain committed to enabling the development of homegrown talent and are proud to support this impressive line-up of Emirati and Arab fighters who are helping to promote and elevate the sport in the UAE and wider regions.
“With this ground-breaking fight series, not only are we nurturing a sport, but we are also proving once again that Abu Dhabi is a premier tourism destination offering diverse and exciting entertainment experiences to our residents and visitors from around the world.”
Headlining the inaugural event is the fight between Moroccan super featherweight Moussa Gholam (20-1-0, 12KOs), currently rated 14th by the World Boxing Council (WBC), against former world title challenger Matias Carlos “La Cobrita” Adrian Rueda (37-2-0, 32KOs), of Argentina, in a 10-round match. This fight marks Gholam’s debut in the Middle East; the winner will position himself as a legitimate world title contender.
Gholam, who is a former WBC Youth Silver and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental champion, is eager to establish his hold as the future of Arab boxing. Rueda is a past WBO World featherweight title challenger, as well as a former WBO Latino super featherweight and featherweight titleholder, and South American Featherweight Champion.
The 10-round co-main event will pit undefeated UAE super flyweight prospect Sultan Al Nuaimi (9-0-0, 6KOs) against Jemsi Kibazange (18-6-3, 5KOs), of Tanzania. Al Nuami, known for his speed and agility, made waves with his most impressive career performance at the last event promoted by Matchroom Boxing in Abu Dhabi. He is one of only a few professional boxers in the UAE, where he was an amateur champion, and he is expected to put on a thrilling show for his home crowd.
Bader Samreen (8-0-0, 7KOs) is a titan from Jordan’s professional boxing scene and a bronze medalist as an amateur at the World Championships. Seven of his eight victories to date as a professional have been by way of jaw-dropping knockouts, each more electrifying than the last. Samreen will be stepping into the ring against a tough, experienced Mexican fighter, lightweight Jose “Cuate” Gonzales (16-2-2, 12KOs), who’s vast skills ensure a memorable fight.
Also fighting on the undercard is another Jordanian boxer, Bishara Sabbar (6-0-0, 4KOs), who takes on India’s Mohd Azahar (8-5-1, 7KOs) in an eight-round bout for the vacant WBC Youth World super featherweight title.
Other fighters participating in this special event include a pair of Egyptian Olympians, cruiserweight Youssef Karrar (1-0-0, 0KO) and welterweight Marwan Mohamad Madboly (2-0-0, 1KO). Additional bouts will include fighters from Iran, Bahrain, and Morocco.
AAM Seddiqi Sports has been promoting and managing fighters in the region for 10 years and it has a growing stable of more than 30 gifted regional and global talents. Its events include five world title shows that have been broadcasted globally on ESPN, Sky Sports, and other major networks.
DCT Abu Dhabi is responsible for promoting, protecting, and progressing the emirate by driving the strategic and sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. As part of its mandate, the department is responsible for promoting regional and global sporting events in the emirate.
Tickets to Rising Stars Arabia are on sale now at abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net. Leading up to the event, fans can find updates on the AAM Seddiqi Sports Instagram channel @seddiqiboxing and on seddiqiboxing.com.
