Afghan boxer triumphs in country's first pro boxing bout
Afghan fighter Rahimi overcame Mbelwa on Tuesday evening to take the World Boxing Organization Intercontinental middleweight belt in the "Fight 4 Peace" in a city better known for gunfire and insurgent attacks than uppercuts and jabs.
Organisers hope to use the event, which drew around 1,500 people paying at least $100 for a ticket - more than a month's salary for most Afghans - to promote sport as a unifying force in Afghanistan after decades of conflict.
"This bout will give a lesson to the Taliban and other opposition of the government to stop fighting with weapons and that they can start fighting for power without violence," said 28-year-old Mohammad Asif Sahibi as he watched.
During their five years of rule in Afghanistan the Taliban, bitterly opposed to sport and entertainment, outlawed boxing as un-Islamic, but later allowed limited-contact fighting which prohibited strikes to the face.
Tuesday's contest, during which Rahimi's every swing was roared by a partisan, flag-waving crowd, began after a mullah recited verses from the Quran, a solo footballer showed off ball trickery, and martial artists staged a display of Thai boxing.
"Its aim is to change people's minds in order to keep them away from war and enmity," said Rahimi supporter Attah Mohammad Yousufzai, a finance manager for a logistics company in Kabul.
"It aims to show them how to fight and still love each other."
Rahimi took the belt on a technical knockout which ended a contest of few cleanly-landed punches, staged in a huge tent normally used for national gatherings of tribal elders but rigged with Las Vegas-style lights and a techno-pumping sound system for the bout.
"Today it's a start," Rahimi said after the fight. "This belt is not mine, this belt is Afghanistan's, it's yours. I love you."
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Hey where abouts are your from? Them pakistani amateur names u mentioned sound familiar @GangaRaam:
@ abdullah, I aint jealous. Amir Khan fights for GB because he was born in GB. Haroon Khan fought for PK in the commonwealth games and got a bronze, even though he was born in GB. Im just clarifying the fact that Afghans are not inherently stronger or more warrior like, as they like to make out. So few of them engage in any combat sports at an elite level. Its just a fact. Rahimi isn't a good fighter at all. AND HE FIGHTS AND TRAINS OUT OF GERMANY. He just fights journeymen and bums.
Damn dude, why are you so jealous? Amir Khan plays for Briatin, which is cool but this Rahimi guy is good at least plays for the country he was born at. It would be interesting to see any pros coming to fight in Pakistan. Any ways young people need more sports and education not ignorance in this region. Peace@GangaRaam:
Seen as most of these guys dont like us anyway, and like to pass themselves off as the greatest warriors known to man, this guy is not that good at all. His first loss was to a man who had 58 losses and 9 wins.
Not even world level. No Sergio Martinez or Chavez Jr. Whens the other "great hope" bahadurzada going to fight in the UFC again.
Pakistan churns out much better boxers, at a better rate, and they're world class too. My own community, British Pakistanis are where many of them come from. Amir Khan, Haroon Khan, Adil Anwar, Adnan Amar, and a shedload in the amateurs. Waleed Din is a beast in the amateurs, Ali Hanif, Saif Cheema...Conveyor belt of talent...