Indian social media influencer and boxer Manish Sharma, widely known as Half Engineer, and Pakistani content creator Rahim Pardesi were involved in a physical altercation during a promotional face-off in Dubai ahead of their upcoming bout.
The two fighters are scheduled to square off on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Nikki Beach Dubai, as part of the Fury by the Sea – MUKA Boxing event. What began as a standard pre-fight staredown quickly escalated when Sharma suddenly struck Pardesi across the face in front of assembled media cameras.
A video capturing the incident rapidly circulated across social media platforms, sparking widespread debate and discussion among online users regarding the build-up to the cross-border encounter. Standby security and event personnel quickly intervened at the venue to separate the two individuals and prevent further escalation.
According to reports from the promotional setting, the physical confrontation followed an aggressive exchange of verbal taunts and gestures between the pair. The exact sequence of words and provocations leading up to the sudden blow has not been independently verified by tournament officials.
The upcoming fight card is structured to feature a total of 12 boxing bouts, with the primary competitive action scheduled to take place between 6 PM and 10 PM local time. The contest between Sharma and Pardesi has emerged as one of the most anticipated match-ups of the evening due to the high-profile rivalry and the recent flare-up.
Manish Sharma has built a digital following through online content creation before transitioning into exhibition boxing events. His upcoming opponent, Rahim Pardesi, is a prominent Pakistani entertainer and social media personality who has similarly stepped into the combat sports arena.
The unexpected confrontation has significantly intensified interest surrounding the Dubai event, drawing heightened attention to how the two personalities will handle their grievances inside the ring. Both fighters will now prepare for their official meeting at the venue in two days' time under heightened security and public scrutiny.
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