Make way for the Qatari sheikh who wants to be king of the ring

JEDDAH: People in high places into glamor sports like auto racing, golf or tennis is normal. But boxing?
Yes, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani doesn’t really mind. In fact, he has embraced it body and soul — the so-called poor man’s sport, just ask Sugar Ray Leonard, who famously said: “Boxing’s a poor man’s sport. We can't afford to play golf or tennis. It is what it is. It's kept so many kids off the street. It kept me off the street.”
Ten years into boxing, Al Thani, a homegrown talent, is now Qatar’s first professional boxer. With focus and dedication, he aims to put Qatar on the map.
The 29-year old Qatari broke into the professional ranks only last May and yet dreams about becoming a world-beater in future, as he drew inspiration while growing up from “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali, widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century who died on June 3 this year.
“To be honest, I take my boxing career very seriously. My goal always depends on how I’d do on my next fight. I feel that you should know your boxing. Boxing is a short career you have to take everything carefully,” said Al Thani during a phone interview on Tuesday from Doha.
The UK-educated Al Thani spoke about his journey in a sport closest to his heart.
“I love boxing. I started watching boxing on TV when I was a 10-year old child. At the time, Prince Naseem Hamed was coming through the ranks. I went to do martial arts like taekwondo and other different forms of fighting. Coaches then saw me use my feet much better than kick with my feet.
Always in my mind, drilled in my mind was boxing. At the time, boxing in Doha was not yet developed even in the amateur.
“At the age of 16, I went to England for studies. That’s where I met my coach Franck Bolec, the assistant of my head coach Ismail Salas. I graduated in London with a degree in international business.
“I look up to Muhammad Ali. When I started to watch Naseem, my mother told me you should see the Muhammad Ali fights. I heard of him and admire him for his conversion to Islam. He was quick for a heavyweight and moves like lightweight. I was touched as well by his humanitarian role and his vision. He was just the total character, so much bigger than the boxing ring.”
Al Thani has had two fights and won both since turning professional. These were sanctioned by the European Boxing Federation, Croatia Boxing Federation and Spanish Boxing Federation.
As an amateur, he has been to a number of international competitions and in countries like Syria and Azerbaijan. Fahad’s regret is that he was not able to represent Qatar in the Asian Games because he was then too young to make it.
Under the watchful eyes of the famed Cuban coach Sayas, Fahad’s was a transition that came naturally.
“I train almost every day, except Sunday or Friday. When I take off in the morning, I go running and then afternoons I do boxing, training, sparring, training on the heavy bag and pad work. Technical work, everything. Foot work all of that. I do strength conditioning. Find new methods.
“ I look at how I can improve my explosive punching. That kind of thing,” Fahad points out.
Together with the Qatari government, Fahad’s goal is to promote the sport of boxing.
“The government’s support of boxing and sports in general is very, very broad and in extensive way. It is part of strategic thinking of the government to get young people go into sport. The level of attention I am getting right now is great. I am privileged and honored being the first professional boxer. And I look at myself at not just wanting to prove myself but promote boxing in the Middle East. That is a goal I set for myself,” Al Thani shares.
While boxing does not yet enjoy the kind of popularity of, say, football, it is nonetheless growing big and growing very fast, according to Al Thani, a super lightweight nicknamed Panther. “The country’s pool of boxers is well stocked, from light heavyweight all the way down to bantamweight,” he said.
His advice to young aspiring boxers: Take the sport seriously. Listen to your coach. Boxing is not just about strength, but strategic thinking and being the smartest in the ring. Strength can only take you so far. Respect the sport and it will respect you back.
For his long-term goal, Fahad sees himself reaching the elite level in future. “If not I will be very very disappointed.”
Meantime, Fahad held a press conference Monday in his training base at Franck Bolec Fitness Gym in Doha to build relations with the local media, after being away training most of the time in Las Vegas. Nothing is confirmed yet, but Fahad said his next fight will be announced in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned.