WITH someone like Ibraheem Sulaimaan, a fighter tipped for stardom, it is easy to forget that, just like the rest of us, he is made up of little more than flesh and blood.
The same as anyone else, Sulaimaan, 7-0 (4 KOs), must discover the most effective way to respond to setbacks, figuring out exactly how to craft the best version of himself in the process.
For him, it takes a very simple yet powerful approach, defined largely by his Islamic faith while, in equal measure, the 24-year-old maintains his intensely-regimented existence.
In that sense, there is no secret ingredient when it comes to piecing together a plan for success; but putting the wheels in motion, on the other hand, remains a far more complicated task.
Still, to realise his lofty ambitions, Sulaimaan has seemingly created a compelling recipe, the same one he used back when, even if just for a brief moment, a shred of doubt was suddenly cast on his promising career.
“There was a year when I lost six or seven amateur fights in a row,” he told Boxing News. “At the time, I just asked myself, ‘is boxing even for me?’
“But then I kept my head down, showed that consistency in the gym, and it paid off.
“Sometimes, if life isn’t going your way, you’ve just got to trust the process. As a Muslim, I pray five times a day, believing that everything will work itself out.
“Without faith, we’d all crumble. It’s what’s keeping me together, keeping me strong. I pray for what I want, I train hard, and then I see God open doors for me.”
Along with enhancing his own mental fortitude, the Birmingham man has equally made a conscious effort to improve the lives of those around him.
Naturally, his identity as a South Asian fighter will always resonate with individuals who, while sharing a similar background, may find themselves lacking a degree of self-belief.
In response, Sulaimaan is only too happy to help, recognising the importance for him to have an impact on the local community.
“Most of the kids in the area are South Asian Muslims,” he said. “They see what I’ve been doing and it motivates them to start training.
“I’ll get sent messages every other day saying, ‘yo, I’m getting bullied. Have you got any advice for me?’
“I’ll always tell them to hit the gym and build that confidence. Then they’ll text me in a couple weeks saying, ‘yo, you’ve changed my life.’
“So as long as I’m impacting the community, it’s all good.”
In terms of his development in the ring, meanwhile, Sulaimaan is gearing up for a mini test against super-featherweight campaigner Brian Phillips this Saturday.
‘The Spider’ will return to the Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, where, while featuring on the undercard of Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr, he hopes to produce a typically scintillating display in front of his home fans.
More importantly, though, this next assignment represents another step towards a level where, in Sulaimaan’s mind, there is no doubt of him reaching.
“I’ve got two eight rounders – this fight [against Philips], then another one – and then I’ll have a 10 rounder at the end of this year, which could be for a title,” he said.
“I’ve seen the whole top 10 [in the UK], and I think I’m ready for them all. I’m bringing a different approach to the game – you ain’t seen a style like mine; you ain’t seen an attitude like mine.
“When I’m in the ring, it’s like I’m already the champion – that’s the way I carry myself. As long as I keep performing, no one can beat me on my day.”
