From Essex County to Center Ring
When Muadh ‘Nim’ Abdus-Salaam steps into the ring on June 21 at Newark’s Prudential Center
for his professional boxing debut, it won’t just be another fight. It will be the result of years of
preparation, sacrifice, and focus from a New Jersey native who’s made a name for himself in
football, education, and now, the sweet science.
A 2018 graduate of Irvington High School, Nim has always represented Essex County with
pride. “I played most of my football career as a kid in Irvington, started out for the Golden
Knights,” he recalls. “That program built me. It gave me character.”
From early athletic development through football to his decorated amateur boxing career, which
includes being a three-time national champion and ranked No. 1 in the country, Nim has always
understood the importance of discipline, legacy, and family. “My biggest thing is transcendence,”
he says. “There weren’t many examples for us. I wanted to set the bar just enough for my brother
to keep chasing it and go even further.”
That brother is Zahir Abdus-Salaam, a standout football player who recently graduated from
Western Michigan University and is now pursuing his own pro debut. “We’re inseparable,” Nim
says. “We stick together, don’t let anything come between us. Healthy competition runs deep in
our family – even my sister, who played basketball at Rutgers-Newark.”
‘Boxing Was Always the Endgame’
Although many knew Nim as a football standout, boxing was always quietly waiting in the
wings. “That was always the plan. Even in 8th grade, I made the decision,” he says. “I realized I
wasn’t going to be 6’2, and the percentages of making the NFL were slim. So I used football to
get my degree and always knew I would turn pro in boxing.”
His nickname ‘Nimble’ stuck early at Irvington, and that footwork translates in the ring. But don’t
mistake it for finesse alone. “I like to call it ‘bully ball,'” he says. “That grit from playing
linebacker and running back is in me. Boxing just sharpened it.”
Degrees and Dedication
After earning a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a master’s in sports administration
from Delaware State University, Nim stayed close to the sport. “I built a gym in my garage in
Delaware,” he recalls. “Watched the Tank vs. Hector Garcia fight and told my brother, ‘I’m tired
of just watching. It’s time.'”
For Nim, boxing is more than brute force. “People want a second-round knockout. I study
tendencies, mannerisms, footwork. I’m downloading what my opponent does. I approach boxing
strategically, scientifically.”
Leaving a Legacy
As he gears up for his debut, Nim is deep in camp, surrounded by coaches and mentors who
know him best. “The foundation of my character was built with my father and those coaches
from Irvington,” he says. “They know my roots. They know what drives me.”
While Nim’s journey has already spanned multiple fields, he’s clear on the legacy he wants to
leave in boxing: “I want people to say I was patient. My will, my spirit, unmatched. I want to be
remembered as a family man who transcended, who showed the next generation what’s possible.”
June 21: The Next Chapter Begins
He also has a message for kids coming up in Jersey: “It’s okay to get good grades, to be
disciplined, to go to practice. Fun will be there. But 5 to 30 seconds can change your life. Stay
focused, stay consistent, and make sure your journey is your own.”
Expect intensity, strategy, and heart on June 21. Expect Muadh Abdus-Salaam to show why his time is now.
Photo courtesy of Muadh “Nim” Abdul Salaam
Follow him on Instagram: @_nim3
