Star pugilists vow to pack a punch at Dubai’s sold-out #RotundaRumble
British super-lightweight Catterall (left) poses with his German opponent Timo Schwarzkopf at the weigh-in on Thursday.
The blockbuster bill, promoted by D4G Promotions in association with Round 10 Boxing Club and MTK Global, will take place inside The Rotunda of Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai and will be shown live in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.
Catterall (24-0, 13 KOs) is brimming with confidence as he looks to sustain his steady rise on the world stage as he goes up against German counterpart Timo Schwarzkopf (20-3, 12 KOs) in the highly-anticipated main event. Catterall weighed in at 141lbs, with Schwarzkopf slightly heavier at 142lbs.
Waseem (9-1, 7 KOs) is fresh from a magnificent 62 second TKO win in September, and he looks to pick up from where he left off as he goes up against former world champion Ganigan Lopez (36-10, 19 KOs). Waseem weighed 114lbs, with Lopez coming in at 112lbs.
Indian superstar Vijender Singh (11-0, 8 KOs) is fighting in Dubai for the first time, and he seeks to continue his comeback after an 18 month hiatus when he faces Ghanaian foe Charles Adamu (33-14, 26 KOs). Singh weighed 167 lbs, and Adamu was identical also at 167lbs.
World-ranked British super-bantamweight Thomas Patrick Ward (28-0, 4 KOs) also intends to make another strong statement after an eventful 2019 campaign as he battles Mexican counterpart Martin Casillas (20-11-1, 10 KOs). Ward hit the scales at 129 lbs, and Casillas was 127lbs.
An action-packed #MTKFightNight also features the likes of Rohan Date, Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyev, Jayr Raquinel, Hasibullah Ahmadi, Sultan Al Nuaimi, and Fahad Al-Bloushi. Catterall, meanwhile speaking ahead of his Friday bout, said: “You can expect a very good fight from a long and hard training camp. It’s been a quiet year—fight-wise—but I’ve been in the gym working and practicing hard so I expect to have a good fight and to win.
“Every fight is intense. There’s a lot at stake in this fight After this fight, I want to go on and win world titles. And he (Timo Schwarzkopf) is trying to stop that. I always back myself no matter what. You can write me off how many times, but I will always back myself,” Catterall, added by way of signing off for the day.
Meanwhile, Indian hope on the night, Vijender Singh, taking of his Ghanaian opponent Charles Adamu, said, “He looks a little bit slow. I’ll try to go for a knockout tomorrow. If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it. Will see how it goes.
“I’ve been here in Dubai so many times, but this is just my first time to fight here. There’s a lot of Indians here that’s why Dubai feels like home for me. It’s gonna be special and it will be an amazing night. I’m inviting all my Indian fans to come and support me and the whole show.”
Pakistani boxer Muhammad Waseem, said, “It’s going to be a very, very good fight. Lopez is a two-time world champion. Hopefully, we will be able to treat everyone to a great fight. My training was very good. I’m excited to be back here.
“We’re looking for world title shots next year. I’m excited to become a world champion for Pakistan and for MTK Global as well. That was a very good fight. Frist round KO. So I’m looking for another TKO victory tomorrow night,” Waseem added.
Preliminary bouts:
Bout 1: Super-flyweight, 8 Rounds
Jayr Raquinel, (Philippines, 114lbs) vs. Jack Amisa (Indonesia, 114lbs)
Bout 2: Super-welterweight, 8 Rounds
Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyev (Kazakhstan, 153lbs) vs. Muhamad Sebyala (Uganda, 153lbs)
Bout 3: Super-flyweight, 4 Rounds
Sultan Al Nuaimi (UAE, 114lbs) vs. Charles Latuperissa (Indonesia, 117lbs)
Bout 4: Super-bantamweight, 6 Rounds
Hasibullah Amadi (Afghanistan, 121lbs) vs. Detnarong Omkrathok (Thailand, 118lbs)
Bout 5: Lightweight, 4 rounds
Fahad Al Bloushi (UAE, 133lbs) vs. Sandro Tughushi (Georgia, 134lbs)
Bout 6: Super-bantamweight, 8 rounds
Thomas P. Ward (England, 129lbs) vs. Martin Casillas (Mexico, 127lbs)
Bout 7: Super-flyweight, 8 rounds
Muhammad Waseem (Pakistan, 114lbs) vs. Ganigan Lopez (Mexico, 127lbs)
Bout 8: Super-middleweight, 10 rounds
Vijender Singh (India, 167lbs) vs. Charles Adamu (Ghana, 167lbs)
Bout 9: Super-lightweight, 10 Rounds
Jack Catterall (England, 142lbs) vs. Timo Schwarzkopf (Germany, 142lbs)
Live Float: Welterweight, 6 Rounds
Rohan Date (Ireland, 149lbs) vs. Justice Addy (Ghana, 146lbs)
