WBC president Mauricio Suaiman writes:"I traveled to be present at two sensational boxing cards promoted by the newly created boxing promotion named Probellum. The owner is Ali Shams Pour, a gentle and passionate boxing lover who is an extremely successful businessman, based in Dubai. He has a great belief and passion for our sport, and took on the task of putting together a brilliant team led by Richard Schaefer, who was previously responsible for the creation and success of Golden Boy Promotions.

 

High-level fights took place in a spectacular setting, with a first-class production, whose signal was transmitted to EuroSport, one of the most important networks in the world. Great triumphs for O’Shaquie Foster and Regis Prograis, who thus ensured their chance to compete for the WBC world championship.

 

I had the opportunity to witness the work carried out by MTK, a company in charge of representing boxers, which in its nine years of existence has grown exponentially. They represent champions Tyson Fury, Josh Taylor and Terence Crawford, among many others from around the world; They have also established gyms in more than 20 countries.

 

During Probellum fight night I also met Daniel Kinahan, who is advisor and manager of boxers. A man who has been labeled as a person linked to criminal groups. I had a fascinating and insightful talk with him, confirmed by the testimonies of many boxers, who express their admiration and gratitude for the unconditional support he has given them, which has allowed them to significantly improve their lives. I am nobody to judge any person, and that has been the policy plus ethos of our organization, to combat all types of discrimination and abuse of power, for any person or group.

 

There were so many friendly faces in Dubai, members of the boxing Community from so many countries. Ahmet Oener, Bob Yalen, Anthony Canatazzaro, Lee Eaton, Paul Gibson, Kevin Noone, Oksana Shemenesina, Egis Klimas, and so many more from at least 20 countries.

 

We also visited the first ever boxing gym established in Dubai by Ahmet Sediqui who was one of the first boxing enthusiasts to begin the journey to promote our sport in Dubai

 

Dubai is a paradise. It is a place that makes you feel impressed and excited, just like when you go to Las Vegas for the first time, or when you experience something that really surprises you.

 

The work that Probellum is doing, in coordination with MTK, could make Dubai one of the epic meccas of boxing in the near future. A Middle East epicenter of boxing.

 

We had a wonderful judge and referee seminar, with 23 members of the local boxing commission. Kevin Noone organized the session, which was introduced by Michael Tate from the US, Héctor Afu from Panama and John D. Irving from Ireland. It was a meeting in which basic and intermediate level topics were discussed. Zoom sessions had already been held, but this meeting, which lasted three hours, was highly successful.

 

After one of the cards we went to dinner, and it was there that I understood the greatness of what was happening, because at one table there were 13 countries represented: Mexico, USA, Panama, Uruguay, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Ireland, Italy, Turkey, Germany, India and the United Arab Emirates; all gathered together for boxing and united by boxing.