Annual rents in Dubai are usually paid in two, four or six instalments via post-dated cheques
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For Emirati Ahmed Seddiqi, it is all about the timing. It is no surprise that his family has been dealing with watches in the UAE, for close to seven decades.
After providing Majid Al Naqbi a stage to make his debut as a professional boxer, only the second after Eisa Al Dah, in April, Seddiqi wants to make sure Al Naqbi is not alone.
Seddiqi's passion for boxing has seen him slowly but surely create a pathway for budding youngsters in the UAE. He has repeatedly said he wants to focus on the grassroots now and then think of something big by the time the Expo 2020 comes around.
And according to his plan, two more Emiratis will follow in Al Naqbi's footsteps in two months' time. Sultan Al Nueimi, a 26-year-old from Ajman and Fahad Al Balooshi, a 22-year-old from Dubai, will make their professional bow at an event most likely to be held at Caesars Palace on November 22.
"We thank Eisa Al Dah for opening that door, being the first professional UAE boxer and now Majid is the only current and active boxer from the UAE," Seddiqi told the Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.
"We have two more boxers for our next event, which we will announce soon. It is 90 percent confirmed that it will be on November 22 at the Caesars Palace and we will have two UAE Nationals making their pro debut as well. By the end of the year, we will have three active UAE boxers. This has never happened before where we have had three professional boxers at the same time in the UAE," added Seddiqi, who runs the Round 10 Boxing Club in Al Quoz.
Seddiqi hosted his first event - The Fight DXB Uncovered in April and on Friday night held the Rotunda Rumble at Caesars Palace, both in collaboration with MTK Global.
One could call Seddiqi a boxing pioneer in the UAE and dreams of seeing Dubai as the capital of boxing in the region, if not the world.
"If I don't do it, nobody else would do it, you know. I'm passionate and I'm willing to do it, I'm willing to put my heart into building boxing in this country. In the region too, you see what's happening in Saudi Arabia, which is good. But here, I have a different plan. I want to build it from the grassroots. It is never too late, boxing is one of the oldest sports and I have the vision that Dubai would someday become the capital of professional boxing in the region or maybe in the world," felt Seddiqi.
james@khaleejtimes.com
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