Behind the scenes drama before Uddin puts on masterclass

Hamza Uddin…aiming for world domination

THOSE who watched red hot prospect Hamza Uddin breeze to his fourth straight win on Saturday were blissfully unaware of the behind scenes drama that near scuppered the bout.

The Walsall flyweight booked his place on Matchroom’s huge Nottingham Arena with the help of a make-up artist following a bizarre accident, an incident described by dad Raj as “unique”.

Two days before Hamza’s contest with Argentina’s Misael Ezequiel Graffioli, the 21-year-old suffered a gashed nose after colliding with a letter box.

The former outstanding amateur sustained the injury while chasing fight tickets that were blowing down the street in Thursday’s storm.

“I was panicking,” Raj admitted. “I took him to a chemist who said it had to be glued, but if it was glued up he wouldn’t pass the medical.”

They tried a powdered gym remedy, then recruited the make-up artist to hide the extent of the injury.

The ruse didn’t fool the fight medic, but, thankfully, he cleared Hamza to box in his first eight rounder.

Hamza can now see the funny side of the drama. “Only I could do that,” he laughed. “Anything other than boxing, I’m useless at.”

Not that fans watching the action would’ve known anything was awry. Uddin – a flyweight with ferocious firepower - dazzled and dominated on his way to a shut-out points decision. Referee Peter McCormack scored it a 80-72 whitewash.

“I had to change the plan,” said Raj. “I didn’t want him to get too involved because I knew it (the gash) would open.”

His son put on a masterclass, spearing Graffioli with jabs and landing spiteful uppercuts.

Hamza showed why he is being groomed for big things and I expect him to be named prospect of the year at the Board of Control’s Midlands awards on February 9 at Cannock’s Premier Suite.

Graffioli came with a winning record of five wins in eight, but lacked the power or reflexes to put a dent in Hamza.

He gamely trudged forward and was picked apart with a surgeon’s precision from first bell to last. In fact, it wasn’t until the fourth that he landed a punch of any note, a left hook.

Hamza, sometimes with arms dangling by his side, whipped home hooks, lead uppercuts and shook his head in contempt when Graffioli attempted to muster an attack.

He even draped his arms over the top rope, as if leaning on a farm gate, in the last. The lad did as he pleased.

“It was good fun,” he said. “My first eight rounder and I fought at a very high pace, I felt sharp.

“I’m ready (for titles), but it’s what the team wants – there are so many different routes. The decision is what route to go down, the best avenue to get to a world title.

And he has no doubt world honours will follow.

“One million per cent,” he stressed. “I work so hard, make so many sacrifices, put in so much time that it’s going to happen. I don’t just want to be a world champion, I want to be a multi-weight world champion. The plan is to go through the weights. I’m 5ft 7ins, I’m only 21.”

Hamza is now firmly established as a celebrity in Walsall, but craves wider stardom.

He added: “It’s good to have the people of your hometown behind you, it means your fighting for your hometown. But I want to be known worldwide.

“I have to stay humble. As a young man it’s easy to think I’m the man, I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve. I want so much more.”