The 23-year-old Rabii represented Morocco at this year’s Olympic Games in Brazil, where he captured a bronze medal in the welterweight division, losing a disputed decision (0-3) in the semifinals to Uzebek boxer Shakhram Giyasov, who then lost (0-3) in the championship final to Daniyar Yeleussinov. Rabii had defeated Yeleussinov, Казахстан, in the gold-medal championship bout of the AIBA World Amateur Championships. An average of 6 million Moroccans viewed each of Rabbi’s Olympic matches, providing testimony to his celebrity status back home.

A gifted orthodox fighter, Rabii was the past World Series of Boxing Fighter of the Year, who signed an exclusive, multi-year managerial contract last October with Nowhere2Hyde Management, which is owned and operated by international manager Гэры Хайд, of Cork, Ірландыя.

“We are delighted to have signed one of the best amateur boxers in the world,” Гайд сказаў. “Mohammed has a great style with knockout power in both hands. He will kick-star his pro career in front of his adoring fans in Casablanca February 18^й. He is a national hero, так, the plan is to take full advantage by building him up at home in Morocco.”

Two other boxers managed by Hyde, Былы Сусветная баксёрская асацыяцыя (WBA) полулегком вага Simpiwe Vetyeka і ў сярэднім Gevorg Khatchikian, will fight in the main event and co-feature, адпаведна, against opponents to be determined.

Vetyeka (29-3, 17 КО), fighting out of South Africa, is currently ranked No. 4 па версіі WBA. The only two pro losses for Khatchikian (24-2, 12 КО), a Netherlander, have been to present super middleweight world champions James Degale (IBF) і Gilberto Ramirez (WBO).

Tickets are now on sale for the Лютага. 18 show in Casablanca, in which Rabii will be supported by three other Moroccan fighters.

Шчэбет: @nowheretohyde,