Elite-level boxing lands in Abu Dhabi this weekend, when WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol puts his belt on the line against Gilberto Ramirez, on an historic night in the capital. Here are the details.
What is it?
Dmitry Bivol versus Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the inaugural event in the “Champion Series”, a recently announced partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and renowned promotion Matchroom Boxing.
The card, with Bivol-Ramirez at its head, features three world title fights, including a highly anticipated clash between Jessica McCaskill and Chantelle Cameron for the women's undisputed super-lightweight crown.
The event marks the first in a multi-year collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Matchroom Boxing.
When is it?
Saturday November 5.
Where is it?
Etihad Arena, home to the recent UFC 280.
Who’s fighting?
At the top of the bill, one of the standout match-ups at light-heavyweight, pitting against one another two undefeated boxers. The champion, Bivol, has won all 20 professional bouts (11 by knockout), including a unanimous-decision victory against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez last time out. The Russian has held the WBA belt for five years, and makes the ninth defence of the title.
In contrast, Ramirez moved up to 175lbs in 2019 after reigning as WBO super-middleweight champion. Since, the Mexican has gone 5-0, all by knockout, to take his pro record to 44-0 (30 KO). He sits currently as the WBA’s No 1 mandatory challenger.
In the night’s penultimate encounter, undisputed welterweight champion McCaskill drops down one division to take on WBC and IBF super-lightweight title-holder Cameron. The vacant WBA and WBO belts are also on the line.
McCaskill, 12-2 as a pro, has held the undisputed welterweight titles since 2020; before that, the American was the WBC super-lightweight champion and has held as well the WBA super-lightweight crown. At present, she sits at No 4 in ESPN’s women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Cameron, meanwhile, is undefeated in all 15 pro bouts and has had the WBC light-welterweight title since October 2020. The Briton added the IBF belt 12 months later. Cameron comes in at No 10 in the pound-for-pound rankings.
In the card’s other championship bout, Shavkat Rakhimov and Zelfa Barrett are scheduled to face each other for the IBF super-featherweight title. Rakhimov, the No 1-ranked contender, was initially to fight champion Joe Cordina, only for the Welshman to withdraw because of serious hand injury.
From Tajikistan, Rakhimov has won 16 and drawn one of his 17 pro bouts, while England’s Barrett is 28-1. Barrett is ranked currently as the No 2 challenger at super-featherweight.
Elsewhere on the night, there’s a distinctly local flavour early on with three Emiratis added to the undercard. Sultan Al Nuaimi takes on Ecuador’s Jose Saant, Fahad Al Bloushi will meet Georgia’s Giorgi Gotchoshvili, and Majid Al Naqbi goes up against Filipino John Lawrence Ordonio.
How to watch in UAE
Tickets for the night at Etihad Arena start at Dh100, with limited VIP packages, including ringside seats, also available. Those wishing to attend can go to www.etihadarena.ae.
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
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Day 3 stumps
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Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
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Plastic tipping points
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Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
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Coach: Najeeb Amar
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
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Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
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The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
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