Gurung: You will see how I’ve improved

Minaaz Gurung…looking for hat-trick of wins at the Skydome

MINAAZ Gurung, Britain’s only Nepalese pro fighter, has told fans: “I’m going as far as my fist will take me.”

The 22-year-old chases his third win on the major Skydome Arena, Coventry, show on March 9, topped by Scott Melvin’s Midlands lightweight title defence against unbeaten Ameen Khalid.

After something of a stuttering debut, Nuneaton’s Gurung, whose grandfather served in the Gurkhas, says the improvements are happening on a daily basis.

“I was much better in my second fight than my first,” he said. “I’ll be even better in my third.

“My footwork is the big thing, I’ve not missed a single day’s footwork training. I’ve increased my running – you’ll see more bursts, more combinations.

“I wasn’t happy with my debut. I thought I knew what to expect, but I didn’t. Everything happens for a reason and it gave me a good wake-up call.

“There are no more excuses in the bag. I’ve had good sparring – I sparred Scott Melvin last week.”

Gurung is a man on a mission.

“I want to motivate the next generation of Nepalese kids,” he told me. “I want them to say, ‘he’s done it’. Look at Manny Pacquiao – he did it for Filipino kids.”

Gurung is confident he’ll make his mark, even if he’s unsure which weight division will bring title chances.

“Probably super-lightweight,” he added. “I want to chase the fights people want to see. I know I have the knockout power, it’s just a question of learning when to bring it.

“I’ll go as far as my hands will take me.