Ahmed Seddiqi has been a driving force in promoting professional boxing in the Middle East for over a decade, serving as a gym owner, promoter, and manager. He now runs Rising Stars Arabia, a promotional entity aimed at giving fighters from the region a platform to develop and become stars.

Seddiqi and his team were pioneers in the Middle Eastern boxing scene, opening their first gym: 10 Boxing Club, named in honor of the famous 10th round of the Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo fight. 

“It started as a gym, and we kept on going,” Seddiqi said. “My goal was to give back to my people and build something from scratch.”

Seddiqi has held four successful events in Abu Dhabi. As he continues to grow the sport in the region, he remains focused on his ultimate goal: producing a world champion from the Middle East. "It would be an incredible achievement," Seddiqi said. "Boxing is more than just a sport for me; it's a way to give back and build something meaningful."

Seddiqi acknowledged the challenges fighters faced before his involvement, noting that many had to take difficult fights as a B-side just to get opportunities. While he sees the potential for future world champions, Seddiqi tempered expectations, suggesting success may take three to five years. He also noted that he strategically makes sure the fights are matched evenly.

"We match tough fights because we don’t have the same amateur backgrounds as the U.S. or U.K.," Seddiqi said. "Our goal is to build fighters through these tough matches."

The presence of world champions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi has provided invaluable sparring opportunities for local fighters. Seddiqi has hosted top names like Anthony Joshua, Manny Pacquiao, and Amir Khan at his gym during their visits to the area.

In addition to his focus on the Middle East, Seddiqi sees great potential in India’s untapped boxing market. He currently manages Faizan Anwar (18-0, 9 KOs), who he believes could become a major star in a country of 1.4 billion people. Seddiqi also emphasized the importance of developing talent in the Arab world, which has a population of around 500 million.

“If you get one star, the whole region will support it,” Seddiqi said.

Seddiqi’s approach focuses on building fighters rather than organizing high-profile matches. He recalled advice from Mike Tyson: "You just need one [star]. Once you have one, the rest are just going to rise up."

Seddiqi runs 10 Round gym and acts as a manager without taking management fees, ensuring fighters keep most of their earnings, while also protecting himself with a contract. 

“We’ve achieved quite a lot,” Seddiqi said.