JEDDAH: Former world champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed has vowed to capitalize on the “buzz” around Saudi Arabia’s first professional boxing event by setting up an academy in the Kingdom.
The World Boxing Super Series final took place in Jeddah as George Groves and Callum Smith fought for an array of titles — including the tournament’s Muhammad Ali trophy.
Among those in attendance was 44-year-old Prince Naseem, who built a reputation as one of boxing’s most exciting and charismatic fighters during a 10-year career.
The Sheffield-born fighter won belts at featherweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight level. Thanks to his Yemeni parents he has close ties to the Middle East and is determined to give something back to the region.
“I lit up the Middle East when I lit up the world in the 1990s and gave people here something to be proud of,” Prince Naseem told Arab News. “Now it’s time to take things forward. I’m planning to sit down with the government and create a Prince Naseem Academy, a boxing school of excellence, here. I want to produce champions from Saudi Arabia and throughout the region.
“We have a great opportunity. I’m sure there are talented Arab fighters out there waiting to be discovered. We will have great trainers and great champions.
“I’m not just talking about Saudi Arabia but the whole Middle East. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”The undercard at King Abdullah Sports City included two Saudi fighters in Zuhayr Al-Qahtani and Jeddah’s Abdulfatah Julaidan.
Prince Naseem believes that the event in Jeddah can be a catalyst for the development of boxing in the Arab world.
“There’s a real buzz around the place, he said.
“Professional boxing has never come to Saudi Arabia before and it’s a blessing that things have opened up in the country like this.
“We’ve been waiting for boxing to break into the Arab countries for a long, long time. Hopefully this will just be the start of things to come.”
That view was echoed by former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Evander Holyfield. The American ace was at Thursday’s weigh-in and expressed his hope that the “Rowdy in Saudi,” as some have already dubbed the headlining Groves-Smith bout, can act as a launching pad for boxing in the Middle East.
“It’s tremendous to have boxing here in Saudi Arabia,” the 55-year-old all-time great told Arab News. “I think it will help the sport grow.
“I am sure there are some very good fighters (across the Middle East) and if they are given a chance they can change the whole game.”
Prince Naseem Hamed sets sights on creating Saudi Arabian boxing stars
Prince Naseem Hamed sets sights on creating Saudi Arabian boxing stars
- British boxing legend wants to use Groves vs Smith fight as a launching pad to find Arab boxing talent.
- Prince Naseem says he will try to create a boxing academy in the Kingdom.
Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship
Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in which Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lost position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats.
The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.
