Just weeks after buying his first holiday home in Dubai, two-time world boxing champion Amir Khan said he wants to bring the next big sporting event to the city.
The British-Pakistani boxer, who was recently named president of the World Boxing Council Middle East, said Dubai was the perfect spot to attract sports fans from across the world.
He said the success of the UFC's Fight Island Series in Abu Dhabi only served to highlight how successful blockbuster sporting events can be in the UAE.
The 39-fight veteran has not ruled out lacing up for his gloves for a boxing bonanza in the emirate.
“Being president of the WBC Middle East gives me the opportunity to host big events over here,” said Khan, who also clinched a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens at the age of only 17.
“Look how successful the UFC Fight Island was, Dubai could definitely rise to the occasion and host a mega boxing event.
People love to come [to Dubai] on holiday so why not make it a destination for sporting showdowns too. I'd even be willing to fight in the debut match
“People love to come here on holiday so why not make it a destination for sporting showdowns too.
“I could help bring big fighters out here and I’d even be willing to fight in the debut match.”
The decorated fighter was speaking at a meet and greet hosted by Rising Stars, an initiative founded by Dubai resident Rahima Amiraly to support people with disabilities.
The event was hosted in collaboration with WBC Cares and the Amir Khan Foundation, which work to support disadvantaged children through sports.
After laying down roots in Dubai, the 34-year-old said he wants to spend more time in the city over the next few years to build up the boxing scene in Dubai.
“Boxing has been such an important part of my life. I was a very hyperactive kid and my dad sent me to the gym to burn that energy off,” he said.
“I’d love to set up boxing academies and gyms here to help other children that were like me to find their path.
“It’s also so important to make children of determination feel included and become the rising stars they want to be.
“Maybe we could even help produce a champion boxer in the Middle East.”
Khan, who has no plans to retire any time soon, said he hopes to get back in the ring himself next year. And when it comes to his first opponent, he said his first choice would be British boxer Kell Brook.
"I think it’s time to put him in his place and I’m up for the challenge,” he said.
“I remember in a previous interview I said I wanted to retire at 28. I’m 34 now and have no plans to throw in the towel yet, I love the sport too much, it’s my life.”
Rising Stars was launched earlier this year to help people of determination reach their goals through sport, art, dance and music.
On Monday, the sporting star met with nine pupils from the initiative and told them never to give up on their dreams.
“When I would lose a fight I used to read the comments online saying I was finished, my career was over, but I never let it stop me,” he said.
“The best advice I can give you is never let someone else have the power to make you give up.”
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Results
Catchweight 60kg: Mohammed Al Katheeri (UAE) beat Mostafa El Hamy (EGY) TKO round 3
Light Heavyweight: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) no contest Kevin Oumar (COM) Unintentional knee by Oumer
Catchweight 73kg: Yazid Chouchane (ALG) beat Ahmad Al Boussairy (KUW) Unanimous decision
Featherweight: Faris Khaleel Asha (JOR) beat Yousef Al Housani (UAE) TKO in round 2 through foot injury
Welterweight: Omar Hussein (JOR) beat Yassin Najid (MAR); Split decision
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Sallah Eddine Dekhissi (MAR); Round-1 TKO
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali Musalim (UAE) beat Medhat Hussein (EGY); Triangle choke submission
Welterweight: Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) beat Sofiane Oudina (ALG); Triangle choke Round-1
Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Saleem Al Bakri (JOR); Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Nawras Abzakh (JOR); TKO round-2
Catchweight 63kg: Rany Saadeh (PAL) beat Abdel Ali Hariri (MAR); Unanimous decision
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request
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1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
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Why seagrass matters
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Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
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UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
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Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
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If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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On sale: now
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
