The View from The Rock: Tarik Zaina, Gibraltar's best chance at a world title

Tarik Zaina is Gibraltar's best chance of a world champion

After a solid eight rounds banked on home soil in July against a durable opponent, Global Boxing News speaks to Tarik Zaina (18-3-1, 12 KO), about his career so far, fighting for titles, and what's to come for ‘El Camello’.

Gibraltar, most probably due to its young history as an internationally-recognised sports nation, hasn't had too much success abroad competitively, apart from in a couple of minor disciplines.

This can be attributed to Gibraltar's late introduction into official international football in 2013, not having world-class sports facilities, or, the more likely reason, a smaller population, currently at around 40,000. One of the few people to ‘make it out of here' is Gibraltar’s boxer Tarik “El Camello'” Zaina.

Standing behind his orthodox stance, Zaina is a well-rounded boxer. At six feet tall, he's taller than the usual super-lightweight, and with a tough style, he possesses some attributes of the typical Mexican boxer, whilst still being good on the back foot, and hitting with his ranging jab. You'll be able to understand the style later on after hearing his backstory.

Born in Morocco, although bred on the Rock, Zaina, compared to other local competitors who usually go through the Spanish system, has had an interesting, although successful career to date. Zaina, before turning over to the professional ranks, had 70-odd fights, winning around 50 bouts, and two Yorkshire titles in the process.

Most impressively, in 2019, the ‘Llanito’ emerged victorious in Sweden, winning the King of the Ring title and Muhammad Ali Award, both prestigious enough in the amateur landscape. “These amateur fights are essential on the road to mastering the basics and fundamentals of boxing” said Zaina. “However, amateur and pro boxing are two completely different ball games. I'm a better pro than I was an amateur because I've had more time in the ring. I am extremely proud of my achievements as an amateur, and I think it contributed a lot to the boxer I am today”.

Almost a year on from this amateur success, and after missing out on his 2020 ABA Elite semi-final opportunity due to Covid-19, Zaina took what seemed to be a risky move, and began his professional journey in Mexico, making his debut there, and racking up ten fights in the process. Zaina described living halfway across the world as a “surreal, life-changing experience”. “There were plenty of challenges in all aspects of life”, he also added. “Not only was I out there alone, I didn't know anybody and I had to figure it all out myself. But hey, if you don't try, you don't know. It all worked out in the end and I wouldn't change it for anything.”

Thanks to a well-rounded performance for the WBO Latino belt in his thirteenth outing, unfortunately ending in a majority draw, two fighters touted to be world champions would be up next for the Gibraltarian pugilist, in Delante ‘Tiger’ Johnson (18-0, 8KO) and Rohan Polanco (18-0, 10KO), with him narrowly losing to the first to Johnson on the Zayas-Teixeira undercard, and losing to Polanco via a wide-points decision. “Fighting ‘Tiger’ and Polanco were great experiences for me as a boxer from such a small place like Gibraltar.”. “I was extremely nervous, and as they say, I was thrown to the sharks, and I was able to swim with them. Although I lost both, I do feel those fights show I belong at that level.” said Zaina.

Despite the losses though, Zaina showed ability and grit against world-level competitors, especially against the 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Johnson, showing levels of competitiveness for the full eight-rounds, and even coming off of the canvas in the final round of the Polanco fight.

After a four-fight stoppage streak, Zaina then became the first Gibraltarian fighter to fight for a version of a belt at world level, further showing ability and promise that he may be the first local fighter to hold a world championship, narrowly losing to former IBO World Champion Mohamed Mimoune (25-7, 5KO) in a scrap for the WBA Gold title in Lahore, Pakistan. This was a fight that people, including Tarik himself, believe he should've won.

“It's the most heartbreaking thing for a boxer to train for 10 to 12 weeks, only to have some crooked judges decide his fate. Not only did they change the weight from 140 to 147 two weeks before the fight, I also strongly suspect Mimoune wasn't clean that night. His power was out of this world, he took everything I threw at him, and walked straight through me. Yet, I still performed and strongly believe I outboxed him. If he wasn't managed by the promoter, and the fight was in different territory, the decision would've gone my way.”.

Although, after rain comes sunshine. Now proudly backed by local sponsors El Martillo, helping pave the way for local boxing and being the new pioneers for it, Zaina bounced back with a shutout points win back home on the Rock, with big ambitions in mind. When speaking about what's next, Zaina said “I want to fight for the British or English title. I believe it's the right step for me, and they're fights I strongly believe I can win.”. “I'll take on all oncoming challenges. I believe I belong at world level, and I proved it at a higher weight class!” he exclaimed.

Looking back on other points of his career to date too, Zaina too credits high-level sparring as being a key factor in progression, especially coming from sparring within the same camp as Israil Madrimov, the man who arguably gave ‘Bud’ Crawford his toughest night's work. “Sparring all the Uzbeks down in California has definitely levelled up my game. These experiences teach you more than some fights, absolutely. Just look at David Benavidez, he constantly talks about how sparring Golovkin made him who he is today!”.

Now, going forward for “El Camello”, it seems domestic honours could be in the picture for Gibraltar and Morocco's own. Zaina says that “One thing I can tell my fellow Gibraltarians is that the best is yet to come, and that I will make you all proud.”. “The goal is to become the first world champion from Gibraltar, and I will not stop trying until I achieve it. It's a special place, Gibraltar, and the people are what makes it special!”

However, can we really see Zaina fight for a world title? I believe so, as with the right backing and team behind him, big opportunities could be on the horizon. If any man from ‘El Peñon’ is to win a major honour, it should be Tarik Zaina. Although, what is needed now is a clear progression from domestic level wins to world-level wins, which is most definitely possible for a boxer of Zaina's talent.