I’ve been a little quiet for the last few months because I’ve been pre-occupied for the big fight that took place at Wembley Stadium on the 21st September 2024, Joshua VS Dubois where my protégé Hamzah also fought, and by the grace of God he won, very quickly without getting hurt I’d like to add.
For 6 weeks or so leading up to the fight I had one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences of my life, infact it’s something I believe every successful person should try, it’ll change their thinking forever.
It really was getting back to grass roots and basics again, without the luxuries or fancy frills and trappings of life, living in a camp house, getting up to train, eating, sleeping on a pump-up mattress, then repeating the same thing over and over again.
Every day it was the same routine, eating the same food, doing the same thing, it’s not something I’ve done in a long time, and it makes you really appreciate what you have, and I think it grounds you and makes you humble, and I would definitely do it again.
As tough as it was, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I learnt that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, what level you are at, we should all thank God for what we have, and enjoy the journey along the way.
I also realised that whether you have a pound in your pocket, or millions in your bank account, everyone gets by, and it really makes you appreciate what you do have even more, bringing you back down to earth in the most enlightened and rewarding way.
For me it was very similar to the experience that I had whilst performing Umrah earlier on in the year, I felt the same emotions and feelings that I had then.
I was dressed in a 2-piece cloth on the way there, sat at an airport lounge with no jewellery, no fancy clothing or designer footwear, nothing, and I realised that this is the reality of life. You come with nothing, and you go with nothing so make each and every and everyday count, and always aim to be the best version of yourself.
So, I have been involved with Hamzah for a while now as I have mentioned in previous posts, but it’s different nipping in and out of someone’s life to the insights gained when living with someone day in day out, It’s a completely different level of understanding and realisation and I witnessed first-hand, the extreme dedication, the commitment, the sacrifices Hamzah had made in order to get to where he is, and to get to where he wants to get to, I really started to understand the Journey Hamzah was on, and also why I believe even more now that he will be super successful.
I also realised that I’ve got the best dance partner that I could have ever wished for, because I believe in order to grow everyone has to be on the same page, which me and Hamzah are both on, but ultimately Hamzah is the ringleader, the manager, and the rest of us are the support staff trying to get him to where he needed to at Wembley, and for future fights.
There were 96,000 people at the stadium that night, it was an unbelievable event organised by Riyadh Season, Gold Star, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and I only really experienced the magnitude of it after I watched it back on TV a few days ago.
On the day it was just a haze, I was busy with the logistics and getting things done on time, I just went through the motions and didn’t really get to enjoy it. Of course, I was also nervous for Hamzah, it was a huge deal and he’s like a little brother to me now, and of course I was nervous and didn’t want him to get hurt.
I think the biggest take aways that I had regarding the event were that even though I thought I was calm on the day, looking back at the expression on my face, especially the ring walk out with Hamzah, I could have composed myself better, my whole body language, my demeanour around Hamzah could have been different.
I also noted that the atmosphere in the dressing room a few hours before the fight always needs to be controlled, calm, chatty, buoyant not too serious as Hamzah reeds to be in the right energy and in the right state before a big fight.
I’ve got my dance partner now, and once I get my teeth into something I don’t stop and whilst me and Hamzah have this relationship this is just the beginning, it’s a pleasure for me to help him try to make a better life for himself, I am privileged that we have a connection we get on, we both have the same goals, he’s fully fully focused and it’s a perfect match.
For the next fight there will be more changes, better camp, better processes in terms of Hamzah’s bloods his nutrition, his mental wellbeing, it’s like a formula 1 car, when you get to this level all boxers are strong, so you need to refine and tweak and fine tune to give them that extra 1 – 2% edge above the competition, and I believe that he really does have the makings of a World Champ!!
I have always loved sports and boxing is a huge passion and to be involved with something I love with someone who I get on with so well on a daily basis is such an honour and a blessing each and every day, but things don’t just happen overnight.
I have witnessed the hurdles Hamzah has had to overcome and the challenges he has had to face along the way, but he pushes through and in order to be successful and really go after your dreams you also need to have that resilience, that sheer grit and determination, so keep going and be relentless towards your goals.
As always to your success
AD