Eisa Aldah, 36-year-old Emirati welterweight and first pro boxer is set to return to the ring next week after a three-year break next week at Glory 20 in Dubai.
The Emirati has previously organized boxing event in Dubai through his promotion company before opening his own state-of-the-art boxing gym and academy. As founder EMD Promotions, Eisa is the face behind bringing GLORY’s exciting brand of kickboxing and world class talent to Dubai.
Eisa has won 8 of his 10 bouts and is confident of doing enough to be featured in what will be one of the biggest fights of the year. Aldah will be facing Mexico’s Cesar Soriano over six rounds on April 3 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The match-up is the headline fight of Glory 20, an 11-fight event featuring both boxing and kick-boxing bouts.
“Just to update you all, kevin Hanks has pulled out of the fight due to an injury he sustained during his training. But we managed to get a really good replacement, the Mexican Cesar Soriano.” he said, “As we all know, the Mexicans really come out to fight and he will be looking for a knock out. I feel really excited, I was out of the ring for 3 years, but to be fighting at an international fight card as the main event of the night is truly an honour and I promise this fight will be all action from me.”
After a a lengthy time off away from active competition, Eisa eyes the world title in the next three years.
“I had to take a break from boxing because it was getting tough for me always looking for sponsors so I could go on training camps in the US, in UK at Amir Khan’s gym and also in Mexico. So I decided I will build my own boxing academy and then I will not have to worry about sponsors, because now I pay for my own expenses, we built an amazing boxing gym in Dubai and now I’m ready to come back. I want to be a world champion and my vision for the next 3 years is to be in a world title fight and Inshallah we will make it happen.”
I am 36 now but I feel fit, I feel good, I am working with one of the best trainers in the world, my coach Anthony Wilson, who we call “Coach Chill’, is very experienced and has worked before with Roger Mayweather in Vegas. So I feel like I still have another 3 good years in boxing. We all saw Bernard Hopkins keeping the highest levels event at 50 years old and Floyd Mayweather is the best boxer right now and he is 38. Health is the most important in a dangerous sport like Boxing, but losing every fight wouldn’t be right as well. If a boxer gets hit a lot during his fights then he shouldn’t box for too long as its dangerous to his health in the future, you should always retire when the time is right.
Eisa on professional boxing in the United Arab Emirates:
“Boxing as a sport here in the UAE and the Middle East has never been followed or supported on a government level. We have a lack of boxing knowledge here and everyone sees this sport as ‘violent’. To be a top boxer, you have to dedicate to your craft, sacrifice 100%, which means you have to go to bed early, eat right and train twice or thrice a day. People see me in the news and they think, Eisa is getting a lot of publicity through boxing, they try it but then quit because the lifestyle and rigorous training doesn’t suit them!
We need to educate the kids from a younger age, train them the right way, organize more amateur and community events. Boxing teaches you discipline, it keeps you sharp in the mind, that’s what we are trying to do with my boxing academy – EMD Fitness. We have over 500 kids from ages 8-16 training each week. It keeps them fit and disciplined. We are working on taking UAE to the Olympics by 2020 “
On Mixed Martial Arts and combat sports, Eisa added:
“I love MMA, it’s very entertaining to watch and actually it is very popular in the Middle East, much popular than Boxing. We’ve had the UFC here in Abu Dhabi many times and they have been sold out. Now you have the Desert Force and they are really making waves, they run it on MBC Action and their events are also sold out. I like all combat sports but Boxing is always going to be the top for me.”
Eisa sent a strong message to the Emirati and Arab youth urging them to work hard all day, every day.
“When I met Floyd Mayweather at his office in Vegas, I asked him: What is your secret of success? He replied to me – “Hard Work”. I asked Amir Khan and Prince Naseem Hamed the same question and their answer was the same ‘Hard Work!’ Having a talent alone is only 50% and other 50% comes with hard work. So my message to the young aspiring boxers and the Arab youth is to simply work hard, dedicate to your craft, all day, every day. That is the recipe for success.
When you work hard, it teaches you to respect yourself and that leads you to respect your surroundings and other people. Humility and Ability will take you a long way in all walks of life.”
Make your way to GLORY 20 Dubai on April 3rd at the Dubai World trade centre, the tickets are still on sale on www.ticketmasteruae.ae. Fights will be on Dubai Sports TV live, so make sure not to miss the show if you can’t make it to Dubai!
