In a last-minute shake-up due to Moussa Gholam’s training camp injury, Jordanian lightweight prospect Bader “The Master” Samreen (8-0, 7 KOs) is stepping up to headline the Rising Stars Arabia (RSA) series. This vent is making history as the first professional boxing series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.
The undefeated Samreen will square off against Mexican veteran Jose “Cuate” Paez Gonzales (16-2-2, 12 KOs) in this landmark 10-round main event. Promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and sponsored by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, the event will be streamed live on DAZN from Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Middle East Professional Boxing Commission is sanctioning the fight.
Samreen, the first pro boxer hailing from Jordan, perfectly embodies the spirit of the RSA series. This platform aims to elevate Arab boxing by showcasing top talent to regional and global audiences. Samreen captured a bronze at the 2018 AIBA Youth World Championships as an amateur and turned pro in 2021, relocating to Dubai due to the lack of professional boxing facilities in Jordan.
The Jordanian pugilist has also gained significant exposure fighting on the undercard of high-profile bouts like Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II and Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia. His opponent, Gonzales, comes into the fight with a formidable 10-1-2 record in his last 13 fights.
In addition to the main event, the card is packed with talent. UAE super flyweight Sultan Al Nuaimi (9-0, 6 KOs) will go toe-to-toe with Jemsi Kibazange (18-6-3, 5 KOs) from Tanzania. Al Nuaimi is a hometown hero known for his speed and agility.
Heavy-hitter Mohammed “The Destroyer” Bekdash (25-0, 22 KOs), a Syrian native fighting out of Germany, is set to face Musa “Hitman” Ntege (8-4, 6 KOs) from Uganda in an eight-round cruiserweight bout. Bekdash is riding a 13-fight KO streak dating back to 2015.
Also featured on the card is another Jordanian, Bishara Sabbar (6-0, 4 KOs), who will clash with India’s Mohd Azahar (8-5-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBC Youth World super featherweight title. The undercard also includes bouts featuring Egyptian Olympians and fighters from South Africa, Uganda, and India.
AAM Seddiqi Sports has been a regional force in fight promotion for 10 years and boasts a growing stable of more than 30 regional and global talents. Tickets for the event are available now, and updates can be found on AAM Seddiqi Sports’ Instagram channel and website.
DCT Abu Dhabi plays a crucial role in fostering Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism, including the promotion of regional and global sporting events, thus aligning well with this groundbreaking boxing event.