Gurung: I’d love to be on a Nepal show

Minaaz Gurung celebrates his debut victory over Lee Hallett

MINAAZ Gurung, back on his feet after being KOd by covid, is in the gym again, waiting for a fight date and dreaming big.

Britain’s only Nepal born boxer – a bundle of violent energy in the ring – believes he is on a journey that will take him to world level.

He also yearns to box in the land of his birth. That is a tall order – I’m not aware of there ever being an international pro show in Nepal.

But promoter Scott Murray, who work closely with Gurung’s manager Jon Pegg, is poised to stage cards in far flung Kazakhstan. Maybe he can make it happen.

Minaaz, unbeaten in five, was poised to fight on Saturday in Coventry before laid low by virus. The entire bill was later cancelled.

“It (covid) was horrible,” the Nuneaton 23-year-old said. “For two weeks I was bed bound. As soon as I moved, I felt light-headed.

“I felt depressed, I couldn’t do nothing.”

He is now firing on all cylinders and itching for action. Minaaz, who brings colour and excitement to local fight cards, hasn’t fought since November, when he registered his first stoppage by blasting out Stefan Vincent in four.

He’s aggressive, gutsy and has a rapidly growing fanbase.

“Nothing is going to stop the motion (to the top),” Minaaz said, “the motion has just begun. I feel I’ve put on a lot of muscle since turning pro, but, for titles, the future is still at lightweight or super-light.

“I want to fight game fighters. When I fight game fighters who come forward, that’s when I can show my power. A lot of journeymen just tuck-up.”

The country’s Nepalese community are firmly behind their only pro. Gurung appears to have turned them into fight fans.

“This journey is going all the way to the top,” he vowed. “My old man (Thakur) does a lot of the talking for me, my old man is like my promoter. My dad has always supported me throughout. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t got a dad like I’ve got.

“I’d love to fight in Nepal, 100 per cent. I don’t think they’ve done it before, but I believe I can reach world level. Fighting on a big TV show is another dream.”

At present, however, Gurung is a work in progress – and admits it.

“There’s always a lot to learn,” he said. “If I believe I can do something, someone will turn around and teach me something else.

“I’m humble in that way. I’m not someone who thinks he knows it all. I do believe I can be a world class fighter, but there are still skills to be learned before I can achieve that.”

Gurung, whose grandfather was a Gurkha, is plotting to create a boxing empire spanning from Nuneaton to Nepal.