Saturday’s exhibition boxing event headlined by Floyd Mayweather, scheduled for the Burj Al Arab helipad in Dubai, has been postponed following the death of UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa.
Mayweather, the former five-weight world champion, was to face former sparring partner Don Moore in the main event on the inaugural Global Titans Fight Series card. The fight night, entitled “The Showcase in the Skies of Dubai”, comprised four boxing bouts in all, including UFC great Anderson Silva against current UAE Warriors lightweight champion Bruno Machado.
A statement from Global Titans released late on Friday read: “We are deeply saddened by the announcement that His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has passed away earlier this afternoon.
Sheikh Khalifa laid to rest
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Pallbearers carry the body of President Sheikh Khalifa to be laid to rest. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, carry the body of Sheikh Khalifa. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed leads prayers for the late President Khalifa. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed attends the burial of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Al Bateen cemetery. -
Sheikh Khalifa is laid to rest -
Sheikh Mansour prays at Al Bateen cemetery -
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, left, adviser to the UAE President, attends the burial of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Al Bateen cemetery. -
Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon, right, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed at the burial. -
Ruling family members and senior officials attend funeral prayers -
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, third left; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed, fourth left; and Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed attend funeral prayers for Sheikh Khalifa at Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed The First mosque. -
From right: Sheikh Saeed bin Saif, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikh Saif bin Mohamed attend funeral prayers for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed The First mosque.
“Out of deepest respect and due to the unforeseen circumstances, the Global Titans Dubai event which was scheduled to take place on May 14th at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel has been postponed until further notice, with a new date to be announced very soon. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and reassure fans that this spectacular event will be staged in the future.
"From all of the staff and partners at Global Titans Fight Series, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the wonderful people of the United Arab Emirates during this difficult time.”
On Friday, Mayweather posted a message on his Instagram that read: “Sending my condolences to the entire UAE. RIP Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.”
The retired boxing star, whose professional career reads 50-0, had been planning to wear the colours of the UAE flag inside the ring on Saturday night.
