The Peninsula
Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani – Qatar’s first and only professional boxer – is a tireless fighter.
After bagging two victories in the last two months, the unbeaten ring star is up for a bigger and more vigorous challenge as he has agreed for two more bouts, which will take place within a short span of time next month.
On October 19, Sheikh Fahad defeated Romanian veteran Marius Petre Sorin for his 13th straight victory, one month after he defeated Romania’s Ionut Bogheanu in Madrid.
Initially, the 32-year-old was preparing for a November 2 fight in Spain, eyeing his 14th successive triumph but the Spanish boxing body rescheduled the fight to November 8, and also set November 23 for his next match. The schedule has been changed due to Christmas.
Sheikh Fahad, targeting victories in the forthcoming fights to maintain his winning run, hoped to get prepared for the challenge. According to AlKass website, the Qatari star hopes the fights will be held as scheduled. He will intensify his training to prepare for the two fights which will take place without much gap, the website said.
Coached by Franck Bohec, Sheikh Fahad said it was yet to be decided whether to return to Doha after the November 8 fight and resume training at home, or stay in Spain and prepare there for the second fight. He said his French coach will have a final say on the matter.
With his competitors yet to be named, the Qatari star said, the little gap between the dates was not the only challenge for him, saying no knowledge about his opponents will also prove tricky for him in his bid to bag two more victories. “If you know the rivals, it is easy to prepare accordingly during training,” he said. Sheikh Fahad, who made his debut in May 2016, outclassed Hungary’s Bela Sandor in his first fight.
He then notched up victories against Romanians — Adrian Parlogea (thrice), Gheorghe Ghiompirica (twice), Marius Racaru (twice), Bogheanu (twice), Sorin (twice) and Dumitru Nicu Manea.