HE’S now a millionaire with over 8million followers, travelling the world, dripping in designer clothes with a Rolex on his wrist.And he’s been seen hanging out with some of the world’s top celebs at some of the biggest fights in the world, including KSI v Tommy Fury in Manchester.
Abdu Rozik speaks exclusively to The Sun about his rags to riches storyCredit: Stewart Williams
Abdu was born with rickets, which meant he stopped growing at the age of sixCredit: Instagram
But Abdu Rozik had far from an easy start in life.
He was born and raised in poverty-stricken Tajikstan, with rickets, a condition caused by a lack of nutrients and vitamins.
Due to financial restraints, his family couldn’t provide treatment and he stopped growing at the age of six, leaving him standing at just 3″2, aged 20.
Thanks to the condition, Abdu also can’t read or write, having had his education cut short at the age of nine, due to bullying from pupils AND teachers, as well as an exhausting two and a half hour walk to school.
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“It’s been difficult for me,” he tells us in an exclusive interview. “When I went to school for the first time, teachers didn’t take me seriously.
“They were all laughing at me.
“Also my house from the school was a two and a half hour walk, and I’m small so it was very difficult.
“School started at 8 o’clock, but I used to get there at 11.30 or 10.30. It was too difficult.
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“Then I had teachers sometimes shouting at me for being late or they weren’t giving me books.
“If they’d given me books, maybe they’d have let me be good at learning some other language, but I can’t read. I can’t write. They didn’t take me seriously, they didn’t allow me to learn the language.
“I can’t read or write in my own language. It’s difficult for me.”
8 in a house with no roof
Abdu grew up in Tajikstan living with seven others in a house with no roofCredit: Instagram
Abdu was living in a house with no roof in Tajikstan with his two brothers, two sisters, mother and father, and grandmother – none of whom work.
“When it rained, the whole house would be covered in water,” he recalls. “We couldn’t sleep, it was too difficult.”
But it was singing that first started Abdu’s love for being in the spotlight, and gave him the drive to make a success of himself.
He says: “When I was small, I loved to sing. I used to sing in my village in the bazaar.
“I would be sat on the road and singing, and people would give me money.
“I used to work in one day, earn $1or $2 (80p or £1.60). It was very difficult.”
Very slowly, Abdu managed to earn enough money to buy a mobile phone, and open Instagram.
8.4m followers
Abdu now has over 8 million followers on Instagram and lives in DubaiCredit: @abdu_rozik
He now has 8.4 million followers on the social media app – and has moved to Dubai.
“In one or two years, I got so many followers,” he says. “This, for me, is so big. And thank you so much for all my followers, for everyone supporting me.”
His followers have been boosted thanks to the attention he’s got surrounding a potential fight with Russian dwarf Hasbulla, who’s also a social media star.
“Everyone’s trying to get Hasbulla to fight me,” Abdu says. “I’m always ready to fight. He’s scared from me. He don’t want to do fight.
“He can’t talk English. He can’t do anything. He doesn’t have any talent. Zero talent.”
Celeb pals
Abdu is pals with Tyson Fury, and went to see the Saudi Arabia fightCredit: @abdu_rozik
He hung out with Ronaldo properly the second time they met, having learned EnglishCredit: @abdu_rozik
Abdu only learnt English a year ago, thanks to a mugging incident, which happened the first time he came to the country.
He says: “When we first came to the UK, we were meant to stay for 10-15 days.
“But on the last day, three hours before we were meant to go to Dubai, we went to a shop and somebody stole our bag.
“The bag had our passports in and they were so difficult to get back.
“They sent the passport from Tajikistan to Dubai, Dubai sent to Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi sent to Manchester, Manchester sent to London, and we were one and a half months stuck here.
“I learned English a little bit slowly by asking the word. ‘What is this?’ ‘Glasses’, ‘What is this?’ ‘Spoon’, ‘What is this?’ ‘Chicken.’
“After I started learning, then I went to Dubai and took English classes, and I learnt it in one year.”
His language studies helped when he met his “hero” Cristiano Ronaldo for the second time a few weeks ago at Tyson Fury’s fight against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
“It was so good,” he beams. “I was much cooler than the first time.
“The first time I met Ronaldo in Manchester last year, I didn’t know how to speak English, it was too difficult for me, and I was shaking when I met Ronaldo.
“I was like, ‘I am your huge fan. I love you so much. Really, I love you too much.’
“He’s like ‘Okay. Don’t stress too much, calm down.’
“I was too shocked. I love him so much. He’s my hero.”
Celebrity Big Brother stint?
Abdu tells Hayley Minn he wants to appear on Celebrity Big BrotherCredit: Stewart Williams
As well as his singing and boxing, Abdu has started DJing recently, which he “loves”, and is also a reality TV star, having appeared on India’s version of Big Brother, Bigg Boss, last year.
Abdu was in the house for a whopping 105 days, and says it was very difficult.
He says: “It was too difficult, too crazy, without any family, without mobile for four months!
“It was a little bit difficult. Sometimes they were fighting, shouting. I loved it.”
But that hasn’t put him off wanting to go back into the house next year.
“I want to do Celebrity Big Brother in the UK,” he exclaims.
Bought his family a home
Abdu has been able to provide for his family – but doesn’t forget where he came fromCredit: @abdu_rozik
Abdu was able to buy his family a seven-bedroom home in Tajikstan, and fixed the old house too, thanks to his newfound fame and fortune.
He says: “This, for me, was very important.
“It feels too good to provide for my family. They are all supporting me. They are so happy. They’re excited.”
But Abdu doesn’t forget where he came from, and went to visit his old house when he was last in Tajikstan.
“I went to sit and look at it,” he says. “Why? Because I’m remembering where I came from and who I’ve been before.
“It gives me a lot of motivation, power and strength.” More
