Ra’eese Aleem still wants his big fight. This comes after a disappointing loss to Sam Goodman (17-0, 7 KOs) last year in Australia.
Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) is 33 years old and occupies a similar space as Arnold Barboza Jr., a very good fighter in their thirties who has never gotten a world title shot. Aleem looked destined for stardom after stopping Vic Pasillas in 2021. Yet, he just can’t seem to return to the ring fast enough to sustain momentum.
Subsequent fights against Eduardo Baez and Mike Plania appeared to fight fans as stay-busy type fights as opposed to what they were top-tier fights. The problem is simple. His division had one star at the time, unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr., who wanted the fight but got Naoya Inoue in Japan instead.
Aleem’s frustration with what he felt was a refusal of Fulton to fight him had him coin the nickname ‘Scared Boy Steph’ a play on Fulton’s nickname ‘Cool Boy Steph.’ Even though some of the luster has been lost, Aleem still wants that fight. Both Aleem and Fulton have now lost.
That left Aleem having to sit and wait. He is currently ranked the #5 contender by the WBO in the junior bantamweight division. Now Fulton is calling out names, starting with Sam Goodman.
“I’m hearing Goodman wants to come to the States to secure a fight with a top name, and I’m ready for a rematch,” said Aleem. “I fought him on his home turf. Now, he should honor a rematch against me on my home turf. I lost a split decision, and it’s only fair I get a rematch.”
“I have learned from every fight, and I am ready to face any challenge that comes my way. A rematch with Goodman is my priority, but I am more than willing to take on Fulton, Doheny, Akhmadaliev, or anyone else who stands in my path. Ultimately, my goal is to become the super bantamweight champion, and Inoue is the man to beat.”
Years ago, Aleem believed he would be the first fighter to beat Inoue. Now, he just needs a chance to land a world title shot. Any fight that puts him in that spot will do.
His manager, Greg Hannley, believes Aleem needs a big win, and he will get a shot at any fighter—even the pound-for-pound great, Inoue.
“I believe Aleem is one fight away from getting a shot at Inoue,” stated Greg Hannley, Aleem’s manager. “One big win against a top contender will put him in a great position. Ra’eese has been training hard, waiting for his name to be called. I have no doubt he’ll be ready to go when that time comes.”
With all the change occurring in boxing, blue-collar fighters like Aleem sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Now, as boxing is changing and Showtime has left, the sport is moving to mostly streaming services. For the sport to survive, fighters need to ‘prove themselves.’
Gone are the days of building a fighter into a star. Now, it appears you have to fight your way into stardom unless you are something special. Something the fans take a liking to. Aleem occupies the space of spoiling any and all who are trying to prove themselves in the sport.
Aleem is an undervalued top talent who is eager to risk it all against the best.
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