No rest for Eisa Aldah

Emirati dominates Spaniard in the ring but promoter wants more from fighter.

Eisa al Dah, left, goes to a neutral corner while the referee counts out Ignasi Caballero Perez at Dubai World Trade Centre on Friday night.

Eisa Aldah will have little time to bask in the glory of his third-round victory of Ignasi Caballero Perez, with his promoter keen to get him back in the ring as soon as possible.

The Emirati easily disposed of his Spanish opponent on Friday night, knocking him down four times before claiming the UAE World Championship with a third-round knockout at the Dubai World Trade Centre in front of a partisan crowd of around 1,000 people.

However, his promoter, Jessie Robinson, insists al Dah, who improved his record to seven wins and two losses, will have no time to rest on his laurels as they plot more bouts for him in the near future.

“Eisa needs more fights; we need to keep him busy.” said Robinson, the chief executive of EMD Sports Services who, along with the backing of the Dubai Sports Council, staged the Dubai International Boxing Championship.

“We’re just watering the plant with Eisa. He needs time to grow, the sport of boxing needs time to grow [in the UAE].”

Aldah was undoubtedly the main attraction for most people in attendance, although the seven-card programme was reduced to six following the cancellation of what was thought to be the feature 10-round bout between Brad Solomon, the American welterweight, and Victor Hugo Correa, of Mexico.

No explanation was given for Solomon’s withdrawal on the night, but yesterday Robinson said: “Solomon hurt his hand a few weeks ago in training. “When I spoke to him two weeks ago he said he’d be OK and that he was still planning on flying to Dubai.

He was supposed to arrive on Thursday, but he never got on a plane.” The American’s absence, however, did not affect the night’s success, according to Robinson, who also said that al Dah’s fight was always going to be the main event at Sheikh Saeed Hall.

“The night was never about Solomon, it was always about Eisa,” said Robinson. “It was a spectacular performance. Eisa showed that he can carry a show. “Everybody who came, they came to see Eisa. Even during the undercard people around me kept asking ‘When is Eisa’s fight?’. Even the official from the Dubai Sports Council kept saying ‘What time will Eisa be fighting’ and ‘How long until Eisa fights?’”

No doubt there will be tougher challengers for Aldah, the UAE’s only professional boxer, with Perez barely landing a punch on the 32-year-old, who had his opponent down twice in the first round thanks to a straight right and a right hook.

Perez took another trip to the mat in round two of the scheduled four following an uppercut. The referee called a halt to proceedings 27 seconds into round three following an al Dah right hook that sent Perez crashing to the deck again, much to the delight of the crowd.

Results from Dubai World Trade Centre

Super lightweight: Mostafa Said (Egypt) drew with Mohammed Akram (Syria).

Cruiserweight: Ali Hossein Mardi (Iran) def Mehdat al Housny (Egypt) RSC 2nd round.

Middlewight: Mehdi Ramezani (Iran) def Anas Abdulrahman (Iraq) retired at the end of 1st round.

Heavyweight: Abdulmanem Kabbani (Syria) def Bernard Adie (Kenya) by unanimous points.

Cuiserwight: Eisa Ramezanipaland (Iran) def Abdulla Abou Hamdan (Lebanon) by unanimous points.

Welterweight: Eisa al Dah def Ignacio Caballero Perez (Spain) knockout 2nd round.