Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
SIXTEEN fighters of various ages, abilities and backgrounds will be stepping into the ring for Bahrain’s first-ever White Collar Boxing Event after signing up for an intensive 10-week training course.
It’s a form of sport in which men and women, normally found in an office environment, train to fight at special shows. Most have had no prior boxing experience.
The sold-out black tie members event which includes a three-course dinner at the terrace of the swanky ART Rotana Amwaj Islands on Friday has been organised by Lift Strength & Conditioning Centre and Bahrain Boxing Club.
Boxing trainer Tariq Abdulrahman, who aims to develop the noble science of self defence in Bahrain at his Janabiya base with plans to shape future fighters to represent the kingdom, said: “They have trained with us as complete novices for the past 10 to 12 weeks and will step into the ring to showcase their skills to our audience.
“Their journey into the ring is the most valuable experience they will retain, ending in a nine-minute bout to be contested in front of 250 of our guests on the evening!”
The night will comprise of eight fights and feature a guest speaker during the interval, plus a boxing memorabilia auction, with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to local charities.
One of the brave participants will be Rasheed Mehrinfar, a second-year marketing student, who is currently volunteering at the Al Riwaq Art Gallery in Adliya to gain work experience.
“I’ve always had a very competitive nature and I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “I’ve been coming to the gym every afternoon and evening to get ready for the night.”
The 19-year-old Bahraini will return to his studies at Suffolk University in the American city of Boston in September and he only took up boxing after picking up a foot injury whilst playing football.
The tough tackling defender wanted to keep fit whilst the injury mended and said: “Basically I got bitten by the boxing bug and simply fell in love with it.
“You really have to rely on yourself in the ring, whereas football is very much a team sport and others play such an important part in how you perform. However, you do feel like you are part of a family in boxing with everyone here supporting you and pushing you on to be better - to be a better person, both in and out of the ring.”
As well as football, the keen sportsman tried his hands at martial arts from an early age, reaching black and blue belt standards in two disciplines, but preparing for Friday’s bout in the ring in front of an audience has been a whole new ball game.
He’s been running between five and six kilometres every day to improve his fitness and working out daily at the gym which is affiliated with former British world welterweight champion, Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton’s Academy.
On fight night his dad, marketing executive Wahid, plans to be in the audience cheering him on, although his mum, architect Nada, declined the invitation, not wanting to witness her youngest son fight. His brother Omeed, 25, will be cheering him from afar as he works as a venture capitalist in the French capital, Paris.
Coaches have been helping him with pad and bag work, sparring sessions, plus strengthening and conditioning sessions have been added for good measure.
Aiming to weigh in at around 89 kilos, the six foot tall light-heavyweight will on the night be facing the might of Vincenzo Tione, a 46-year-old Italian expat engineering manager, who says after training in a gym for almost as long as Tariq has been alive, last year he decided to experience bouts in the ring.
White-collar boxing has its beginnings at a gym in New York City. Owner Bruce Silverglade began organising informal fights between the white-collar workers of his clientele in the late 1980s, which later developed into regular monthly events.
In July 2000, the inaugural white-collar boxing event, Capital Punishment, saw a team of Wall Street bankers fly to London to compete, generating huge interest and international media coverage.
More than 100 sold-out events have followed, including ‘Celebrity Boxing’ on TV, raising huge sums for charity.
White collar boxing is synonymous with charity and Bahrain’s first event will aim
to help raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease and fight fans will be encouraged to donate to a local charity or visit https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/donate to make a donation, although there will be no obligation to donate on the night.
The popular gym attracts a weekly footfall of around 300 people and recently launched the Mulakem Scholarship Scheme, to support underprivileged Bahrainis aged between 11-16 who show promise and interest in the sport.
