Pride of UAE Al Bloushi makes huge statement with TKO win over Venezuela’s Marcano at Rising Stars Arabia 2

Emirati boxer Fahad Al Baloushi continued his phenomenal rise up the pro boxing ranks when he scored a TKO win over Venezuela’s Milner Marcano at Rising Stars Araabia 2: The Revolution at Yas Links, Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.

The exciting puncher, who trains out of the Round 10 gym of Emirati promoter Ahmed Al Seddiqi in Al Quoz, showcased his boxing skills as he dominated his experienced rival to record the 13th victory of his burgeoning career.

“I came here to win,” said the 27-year-old fighter. “I knew what I had to do and I think I delivered.

“I had full respect for Milner (24-12, 20 KOs), , who has a lot of experience, but I knew I had a job to do.

Al Bloushi, the pride of the UAE, is one of the most prominent rising talents who recently turned pro having won his last 11 fights in a row.

“I am very focused on my career and nothing will stop me from achieving my goals.”

It was a big night for Emirati boxers where emerging talent Fahad Alkhoori (2-0-0) defeated Pakistans Shahzada Sohail (0-3-0) by TKO in a middleweight contest.

Al Khouri, is now unbeaten in three fights having won his previous two encounters by knockout.

In the main event Morocco’s Moussa Gholam, (21-1, 12 KOs) currently 14th in the WBC featherweight rankings, systematically tore apart South Africa's gritty Lunga Sitemela, (15-2, 9 KOs) to also record a TKO victory.

The 28-year-old Gholam is a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental and WBC Youth Silver Super Featherweight Champion. Sitemela is a former South African Super Featherweight Champion.

This premier fighting series was presented by AAM Seddiqi Sports and supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi.

Also on the card, , Dubai-based Jordanian Bader “The Master” Samreen (10-0, 8 KOs) remained unbeaten record, with a 10-round majority decision over the United Kingdom’s Jeff Ofori in a Special Lightweight bout. The 23-year-old Samreen captured a bronze medal as an amateur at the 2018 AIBA Youth World Championships, before moving to Dubai in 2021 to enhance his boxing career.

One of boxing’s best kept secrets, undefeated Syrian Mohammed “The Destroyer” Bekdash (27-0, 23 KOs) overcame Shaban Hamadi Jongo (11-4-2, 10 KOs), a former Tanzanian Cruiserweight Champion as promising Iraqi super middleweight Amer Kadhum Ghaneem (3-0, 1 KO) won by unanimous decision against Bervely Garcia Gonzalez (5-7-0, 1 KO), of Mexico.

Also fighting on the undercard, Moroccan super lightweight Anas Hafiane (2-0, 1 KO) won every round on all three’ judges’ scorecards, against Batamezee Iddi (0-2), of Uganda while Jordanian welterweight Hisham Osama Majed Elisimreen (2-0, 2 KOs) knocked out Indonesia’s Riva Kundimang (9-8-2, 5 KOs) in the third round,

Saudi Arabian super lightweight Sulaiman Abbar (2-0, 1 KO) recorded a fourth-round stoppage of Tanzania’s Salum Omari (1-3, 0 KOs) as UAE middleweight Fahad Alkhoori (3-0, 3 KOs) remained his perfect record with a third-round knockout of Shahzada Sohail (0-3), of Pakistan.

The third installment of the “Rising Stars Arabia” series is scheduled in early March followed by the fourth in June.

Rising Stars Arabia 2 was regulated by the Middle East Boxing Commission and and its regulator Jose Mohan, commented: “At the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission we are very happy to see that fans are engaging with boxing shows in the UAE and particularly events like this which have a full house and which will popularize the sport event more.

"With the support of boxing at the grass roots level local fighters are going to gain a bigger fan base which will eventually grow the sport.

"As regulator of the Commission I am extremely happy with the way things are going with Rising Stars Arabia,” Mohan added.

Results

Rising Stars Arabia 2

Abu Dhabi, YAS Links

Regulator: UAE Boxing Commission

Promoter: Ahmed AM Seddiqi

Super featherweight

Moussa Gholam (20-1-0) def. Lunga Sitemela (15-1-0) by TKO

Lightweight

Bader Samreen (9-0-0) def.Jeff Ofori (13-4-2) by MD

Lightweight

Fahad Al Bloushi (12- 0-0) def. Milner Marcano (24-12-0) by TKO

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