Esaa Al-Sahalman

Esaa Al-Sahalman started boxing when he moved to College Park, Ga. at the age of 17. Originally from Detroit, Mich., Al-Sahalman stated he was inspired by boxers like Tommy Hearns and the intense battle between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran in Montreal. He decided that he wanted to learn how to box and competed on an amateur level for 15 years, winning a state championship at the 147 pound welterweight division in 1980, but he wouldn’t win a title again for 29 years.

In three tournaments last summer, fighting in the Masters Heavyweight division, Al-Sahalman has been perfect. He won the Title Boxing Nationals, the Florida Platinum Gloves and the Ringside World Championships, the tournament title that had eluded him for 15 years.