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Inspired by the 2005 Las Vegas Corrales vs Castillo thriller, Ahmed Seddiqi opens the Emirates’ first fight club, naming it Round 10 Boxing Club
In the 10th round of an epic boxing match in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2005, when Diego Corrales dragged off the mat in a stunning victory over Jose Luis Castillo Little did he know that his heroism would have a stunning impact on an Emirati teenager watching the game in Dubai.
Corrales, a 27-year-old Colombian-Mexican fighter with a 39-2 record, lost the WBO lightweight title to 31-year-old Castillo (52-6-1) after he Was knocked to the ground twice. One minute of space. Corrales coach Joe Gerson yelled at him “let him in” as he staggered to the corner to retrieve the mouthpiece. he made it.
Full of confidence, the blood-stained Corrales set out to inflict his own punishment, sending the sold-out crowd at Mandalay Bay to their feet and feeling that something special was about to happen.
As Corrales went for the kill, a hard right hand and a series of combinations pushed Castillo to the ropes, and the falling bomb forced referee Tony Weeks to step in and end the penalty. It was one of the most sensational comeback victories the sport has ever witnessed, and to this day is considered the “wheel of the century” in boxing.
influences
Ahmed Siddiqi, 21, couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched the scene on television in Dubai. This is unreal, unprecedented sports drama. In September 2013, he opened the UAE’s first professional professional boxing gym in Al Quoz, Dubai. He called it the Round 10 Boxing Club in homage to the epic. Corrales and Castillo fight in Las Vegas.
As one of the most professional boxing gyms in the UAE, Round 10 has helped raise awareness, develop top fighters and develop boxing among locals and expats alike. The unpretentious facility offers intimate boxing classes, as well as a full range of physical and technical classes for established fighters.
boxing home
“As long as you have the right team, you can achieve anything,” Ahmed said of his beloved gym, where he spends most of his time. “In round 10. It’s all about teamwork. We are the home of boxing in the UAE, a real home. We are pioneers. I say it confidently, but in a very humble way. We are professional. It was the right boxing mentality that helped us get to where we are today.”
Born into a prominent Emirati business family, Ahmed dedicated his life to pioneering the development of boxing in the country. And his efforts in boxing have not been in vain. “From Top Rank’s Bob Arum to Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, top international boxing promoters know us and respect what we do as the region’s leading boxing executive,” he added.
“That’s what round 10 is all about in terms of training fighters, bringing in top coaches and shaping fighters,” Ahmed said. From the beginning, Round 10 has been moving forward and has not stopped growing. They are not flashy but very functional and authentic. Ahmed speaks often about building a strong sports community in Dubai and how he has helped build a strong franchise model that drives the sport exponentially.
Round 10 was well received from the start, and with the help of keen market research, Ahmed and his team got a better understanding of the boxing business. Today, many gyms in the UAE are doing well, and Ahmed and his team can be credited for that, thanks to their community-focused facilities that teach real boxing, not just fitness and workouts .
The best place for fighters to train
Round 10 is even more valuable as boxing begins to develop in the UAE. It helps their fighters gain exposure and hone their skills by holding regular combat training camps locally and internationally. Exciting young fighters like Sultan Al Nuaimi (8-0) and Fahad Al Bloushi (9-1) are UAE flag bearers.
The club also has a very rigorous process for hiring coaches who share the same passions and values ​​that Round 10 represents. All coaches at the club are either current pros or former pros.
Former coach Lasisi Allu Bamdele from Niger also enjoyed a successful career, winning 16 fights, while Afghanistan’s Hasbullah Ahmadi joined the club as a teenager and went on to win the WBC Asian lightweight title last year.
celebrity magnet
Round 10 was one of the most visited clubs in the UAE by celebrity boxers, including eighth-tier Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, as well as British Light welterweight boxer Aamir Khan, etc. Discarded by the Al Quoz factory.
Pacquiao may have never fought in the UAE and there have been talks of a big fight. Nonetheless, he made a huge impact on young fighters during his visit to the 10th round. The fighter, who was in town for the Philippine Basketball Association Championship, interacted with the up-and-coming fighter and made a lasting impression.
Another interesting visitor was the Chinese national boxing team, Jorge Linares of Venezuela, a three-time heavyweight boxing champion, and Rocky Fielding, a former British boxer. Super middleweight champion, and Olympian Badou Jack. So far, Ahmed has successfully held 21 fight nights at the gym to raise awareness in the local boxing community. Thanks to promoters like him, the sport has definitely come a long way.
Boxing in the UAE
The first major match in the UAE took place on 27 March 1997 at the Dubai Tennis Court, when former British super middleweight champion Chris Eubank took on the little-known Colombian Kami in Dubai. Camilo Alarcon is on a comeback tour. Eubank won by a fourth-round knockout.
So far, Ahmed has successfully held 21 fight nights at the gym to raise awareness in the local boxing community. Thanks to promoters like him, the sport has definitely come a long way. Fueled by his passion, Round 10 also hosts and supports fighting events across the UAE and internationally.
When was the first boxing school in the world opened?
Defending heavyweight champion Jack Broughton from 1734 to 1758 is credited with founding the first boxing school.
He also helped formulate the first set of boxing rules and was the inventor of the “muffler”, a precursor to the modern boxing glove.
Broughton also encouraged upper-class gentlemen to switch from sponsoring fighters to being their own.
As boxing crossed the Atlantic into the United States in the early 1800s, it didn’t gain fame until President Theodore Roosevelt became a fan and promoter of the sport.
sports@khaleejtimes.com
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