Emirati Majid Al Naqbi soldiers on despite hiccups

Dubai - The UAE National, only the second professional boxer from the country after Eisa Al Dah, lost his job, but continues to live his dream

It has been an arduous journey, riddled with obstacles for Majid Al Naqbi but that hasn't stopped the Emirati, only the second professional boxer from the UAE after Eisa Al Dah, to live his dream.
The 22-year-old, who turned pro this April after 18 fights as an amateur, used to drive from his home everday from Khor Fakkan, with just 100 dirhams in his pocket for fuel, to train at the Round 10 Boxing Club.
'The Fight DXB Uncovered,' hosted by Round 10 Boxing Club, was the ideal platform for Al Naqbi as he flew the UAE flag on his pro debut.
The 22-year-old won by TKO over his Russian opponent Vladimir Lytkin on that occasion. Later in May, Al Naqbi won by an unanimous decision against India's Sandeep Duggal in the Knockout Night at FIVE Palm Jumeirah.
Al Naqbi, who holds a 2-0 record with one KO, will be fighting the third bout of his professional career against Chuansheng Zhang at the Rotunda Rumble at Caesars Palace on Friday night. And it will be his biggest test yet not just because of his opponent, but because of circumstances.
Al Naqbi lost his job a month ago but the fire and passion is still burning when it comes to boxing.
"This is my third fight and my third in the UAE and there is a bit of pressure," Al Naqbi told the Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
"But I can't wait. This is important to me because I just lost my job for boxing. I lost almost $8000 a month just to do boxing. It is crazy but when you love the sport, you will do anything for it. I'm making history for my country. For me to do this, it is a big pressure on me and I need to focus on the sport 100 percent. I need to focus and fight and build my record and fight as much as I can," he added.
Al Naqbi said it isn't easy by any means to be without a job but added it is a risk he is willing to take for the sake of boxing.
 "For our culture, of course it is not good to be without a job. But I want to try and prove them wrong and I want to do it my way. I want to achieve something. Maybe I'm taking a risk here but if you have faith, never back down and keep going the right way, results will come," he said.
Al Naqbi, who had floored Lytkin with a right hook in the fourth and final round back in April, felt the sport needs support and he hoped that the next generation will be in better situation.
"Boxing needs support and I hope the next generation will get the support and I wish to see more champions. I want to build on this and I want to help the next generation get into professional boxing," said Al Naqbi.
After this, Al Naqbi will make his first foray abroad next month. "I will be fighting in October in Kazakhstan. I was supposed to fight in July but I was sick and was unable to fight," he revealed.
james@khaleejtimes.com