RIYADH: The ‘World Champion Kickboxing Challenge’ has broken records with all tickets sold for the Friday super fight to be held at the multipurpose hall of the King Saud University (KSU) here.
The Kickboxing Challenge is the first major kickboxing event organized in the Kingdom by Fighting Fit, a local company, in cooperation with General Entertainment Authority (GEA).
Addressing a press conference here Wednesday night, Saud Al-Sheikh, Fighting Fit general manager, said: “Part of the proceeds from the sales of the tickets and income will go to the Disabled Children’s Association (DCA).” The DCA provides comprehensive care for disabled children through a range of free therapeutic and rehabilitation services with an aim to integrate them into the mainstream society.
Al-Sheikh said “all VVIP tickets and VIP tickets for the blockbuster fight have been sold out.”
“The demand for VVIP and VIP tickets is phenomenal for this unquestionably the biggest fight in the Saudi capital,” said Al-Sheikh, adding that there are only few regular tickets unsold.
Of the kickboxing challenge event, he said that “there will be two segments— one for the kids and another for adults.” He pointed out that the kids boxing games will continue until 9 p.m. to be followed by fight. “In fact, local fans will have a chance to satiate their cravings on Friday, when more than 20 competitors, players and performers will enter the ring at the hall near the new KSU stadium here,” said the Fighting Fit chief.
He said there will be three to four sideshows also on the sidelines of the main kickboxing fight. “There will also be shows in which the kids and the adults can participate,” said Al-Sheikh while expressing his enthusiasm and happiness on this occasion.
Speaking to Arab News after the press conference, Jeet Kune Do champion Abdulmalik Al-Murtadi, said: “I am extremely happy to participate in the event…but I will not fight because of an injury.” “The doctors have advised me to stay out of fight for some time,” said the young Saudi kickboxer, adding that he will, however, be in the ring to show his skills of fighting including body movement.
He said he will join the individual kata performances. “The whole event will feature a number of programs including open fights, kata performances and kids programs,” said Al-Murtadi, who is one among the four celebrity players participating in the event. The other players are Thai boxing champion Saleh Al-Zubi, Moroccan player Sufian Al-Zuraidi, and Nadim Promovitch of Ukraine.
Thamer Al-Shareef, a member of the organizing team, said the event will include some interactive slots like sumo competitions. “The challenge will conclude with a world championship contest in which Nadim Promovitch will face and fight against Sufian Al Zuraidi,” he added.
He said that the event is promoted and supported by the GEA. Children and adults with disabilities will be allowed to watch the event free of cost, he noted. Limited number of regular tickets can still be purchased online from http://lammt.com/fightingfit/ff or in person from Fitness First centers in Riyadh. The DCA, which has teamed up with Fighting Fit and GEA for the event, is a major NGO working to alleviate sufferings of the disabled children.
(Event photos by Photofares)
