Injury Paves the Way for Bader 'The Master' Samreen to Headline Rising Stars Arabia Debut Against Jose 'Cuate' Paez Gonzalez in UAE Boxing Milestone
Due to an unfortunate training camp injury suffered by Moussa Gholam, the undefeated Jordanian lightweight sensation, Bader 'The Master' Samreen (8-0, 7 KOs), has stepped into the spotlight as the main event for this Saturday's inaugural launch of the Rising Stars Arabia (RSA) series. This groundbreaking event marks a significant moment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Samreen will square off against the seasoned Mexican fighter, Jose 'Cuate' Paez Gonzalez (16-2-2, 12 KOs), in a 10-round showdown. This historic event is promoted by AAM Seddiqi Sports and proudly sponsored by the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). Boxing enthusiasts worldwide can catch the action live on DAZN from Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Arena, with the event officially sanctioned by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission.
As the first professional boxer hailing from Jordan, Samreen embodies the spirit of the new RSA series, set to revolutionize the Arab boxing landscape by providing a platform to showcase top Arab boxing talents to both regional and international audiences. Notably, Samreen clinched a bronze medal at the prestigious 2018 AIBA Youth World Championships during his amateur career. When he transitioned to the professional ranks in 2021, he relocated to Dubai due to the lack of suitable boxing facilities for professionals in Jordan.
Samreen gained invaluable exposure in the boxing world by featuring on the undercards of two major pay-per-view events held in Saudi Arabia: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II and Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury.
Gonzalez boasts an impressive 10-1-2 record in his last 13 fights, adding even more intrigue to this high-stakes clash.
In the co-featured 10-round bout, UAE super flyweight prospect Sultan Al Nuaimi (9-0, 6 KOs) faces off against Jemsi Kibazange (18-6-3, 5 KOs) from Tanzania. Al Nuaimi, celebrated for his speed and agility, is a beloved hometown favorite in the UAE and is one of the few professional boxers in the region, in addition to being an amateur champion.
The action-packed card includes undefeated cruiserweight powerhouse Mohammed 'The Destroyer' Bekdash (25-0, 22 KOs), hailing from Germany with Syrian roots, who takes on Musa 'Hitman' Ntege (8-4, 6 KOs) from Uganda in an eight-round bout. Bekdash brings a formidable 13-fight knockout streak dating back to 2015.
Another Jordanian contender, Bishara Sabbar (6-0-0, 4 KOs), squares off against India's Mohd Azahar (8-5-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round clash for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth World super featherweight title.
The undercard features a pair of Egyptian Olympians, with welterweight Marwan Mohamad Madboly (2-0, 1 KO) and heavyweight Youssef Karrar (1-0, 0 KOs) competing in six and four-round matches, respectively. They face South African Sheldon Schultz (4-4, 4 KOs) and pro-debuting Muhammad Muzeei from Uganda.
Unbeaten welterweight Rohit Choudhary (4-0-2, KOs), representing India, will go head-to-head with Iran's pro-debutant Benyamin Moradzadeh in a six-round showdown. Additionally, Bahrain featherweight Yousuf Ali (2-0, 0 KOs) takes on Semugenyi Alex (0-1) from Uganda in a four-round contest.
To purchase tickets for Rising Stars Arabia at abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net. For updates leading up to the event, follow the AAM Seddiqi Sports Instagram channel @seddiqiboxing and visit seddiqiboxing.com.