BOXING – The stage is set for a fantastic night of top-class amateur boxing with this evening’s highly anticipated Royal Rumble IV – the kingdom’s biggest charity boxing event featuring fighters representing Bahrain’s Royal Guard and the UK Armed Forces (UKAF).
Eight bouts are set to take place at Crowne Plaza Bahrain with a number of former boxing world champions in attendance.
Royal Rumble IV is to be held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, with proceeds going to the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF).
The official weigh-ins were held last night in a glittering ceremony held at the Euro Motors Boutique at The Avenues Bahrain.
In attendance were Royal Guard head of boxing Tony Davis, two-time world champion and Athens 2004 Olympics silver-medallist Amir Khan, former middleweight world champion Darren Barker, ex-super featherweight world champion Barry Jones, and former British, Commonwealth, and inter-continental heavyweight champion Scott Welch.
They will also be amongst the scores of VIPs who will be attending tonight’s boxing showcase.
“Every time I come here, there are always fireworks,” said Khan during last night’s events.
“I love coming to Bahrain – the hospitality and the way they treat you is amazing.
“Watching the last couple of years, how the boxers of Bahrain have been fighting, they’ve been boxing very well. They look skilful, they’ve got power, and they’ve got great movement.”
Added Welch: “I’m really looking forward to it and seeing some amazing boxing from some good, strong boxers, who will show us what they can do.”
Seven elite bouts and one junior bout will be taking place this evening, with the fights scheduled to start at 8pm.
A charity auction will also be held at the midway point of the card, with all kinds of valuable items on offer.
Tonight’s eighth and concluding 63.5kg bout will be the main event, in which the Royal Guard’s Prakash Limbu will be locking horns with the UKAF’s Leon Moulds in what will be the third meeting between the pair in their careers.
“I lost the first two times but we are now on my home ground, which puts a little bit of pressure on me but I’m also more determined to beat him this time,” Limbu told the GDN. “I believe I had actually won our first two fights, but I know I made some mistakes. I’ve fixed them after watching the fights over and over, and we’ll see tomorrow – I’m going to give my best effort for a good show.”
Moulds told the GDN: “I know what to expect – I know what he’s got and I know what I’ve got, and I’m looking forward to it. It’s on top of the bill as well, and I just need to make sure that I don’t leave it close, being away from home.”
The Royal Guard’s Israel Davis expressed his delight in being a part of Royal Rumble for the second straight year – an opportunity he describes as “a dream for every boxer”.
“This is the best moment – this is what we have been waiting and working hard to prepare for.
“It is a dream of every boxer to be part of an event like this, so we want to put on a good show and entertain everybody. We are all prepared and excited to give the people what they want.”
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
The former world champions who are in the kingdom to attend tonight’s Royal Rumble IV made a visit yesterday to the British School of Bahrain at their Hamala campus. Amir Khan, Darren Barker, Barry Jones, and Scott Welch were accompanied by Royal Guard head of boxing Tony Davis and other officials, as they met with students and school officials and shared their insights and experiences. Above, the boxers with other visitors, school officials, and Davis, front row second from right.
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