The Lee Hurford Boxing and Fitness Academy has promised to “raise boxing standards” in the UAE and to attract top-class fighters to the Gulf.
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The new boxing gym, which opened in Dubai last week, is the brainchild of Hurford – an ex-Royal Marine Commando and boxing enthusiast.
Hurford has invested his life savings into the academy on Al Meydan street and is determined to develop boxing in the Middle East, bringing quality events and fighters.
“I want to raise the boxing standards,” Hurford told Sport360. “Every single professional show I have been to in Dubai has been kickboxing or MMA, but that’s not me. You go to watch a boxing match and see professional boxing so that’s what I’m going to do.
“We want to bring top names over here. People throw money at the problems in Dubai but it’s not always the answer. You do need money and sponsors but we will bring the right people over.
“We know the Emiratis like their boxing but it needs to be quality boxing. They don’t want to be seeing a has-been, they want to see an up-and-coming star and that’s what we will bring.”
Hurford came over to Dubai for the first time in 1993 when he was working on HMS Cardiff as a young Royal Marine and has felt an attachment to the Gulf ever since.
“I loved it in the Middle East. I said one day when I was married, I’m going to come here. From a young age I really liked the place and it is an ideal place for boxing.”
Hurford’s lifelong dream has materialised but his ambitions don’t solely revolve around boxing. The Englishman aims to create an environment where you can mix training and family time.
“We finally have a place in Dubai where not only the parents can box, the kids can do fitness at the same time. This means they can both train and have some family time.”
Impressive attendance at the grand opening of the Lee Hurford Boxing Academy. #Dubai #boxing #uae @HurfordBoxing pic.twitter.com/Vuv2IaaSEI
— Scotty G (@ScottyGrayston) March 26, 2015
The academy has a homely feel about it, with the hand-picked British coaches who Hurford has brought over sharing his dream to mould the next UAE professional boxer.
“It’s the coaches that make the difference here,” Hurford added. “We are all British coaches and we want to get the message out that there is something different in Dubai now. We want to make a name for ourselves in boxing in the UAE.
“The difference here is the standards. In Dubai there are some people that are doing it on the cheap in a different way but my life savings are going into this to make sure we have the necessary quality.”
@Sport_360 new Lee Hurord boxing & fitness academy in Dubai excellent facilities & ideal training camp# Dubai#boxing pic.twitter.com/O5ZbwT6l4G
— Lee Hurford Boxing (@HurfordBoxing) March 29, 2015
Plans are in motion for Hurford to host his own boxing events later this year, which he hopes will provide a platform for bigger names to come to the Middle East in the future.
“I’m looking to do a corporate boxing event in June and an amateur boxing event in May, then a pro event between June and September.
“The icing on the cake for me would be to put on professional world championship bouts on in Dubai and it’s not unachievable.”
