Hamza wants a title fight by end of year

Hamza Azeem…now unbeaten in six. Pic: MSN Images/BCB Promotions

HAMZA Azeem – fighter by night, prison custody officer by day - has vowed the handcuffs are off when it comes to his pro career.

The southpaw, from Kings Heath, has said its time to step up and take risks after completing his first six rounder.

At Birmingham Conference and Events Centre last month, Hamza scored a shut-out points win over Dale Arrowsmith. The Lancashire boxer has tested some of the hottest prospects in the business during a 121 bout career.

Rangy Hamza stretched his unbeaten run to six and, importantly, scaled his lightest yet, 11st 4lbs – that’s close to the light-middleweight division where he believes titles await.

“I want a Midlands title by the end of the year,” he said.

The 24-year-old is certainly an interesting addition to the game. His “other job” is transporting prisoners from jail to jail or to court appointments.

 “It helps with my boxing,” he said. “Every prisoner has a different energy. It helps my boxing, my mentality, my people skills. I’ve only had one guy try to hit me. I moved quickly and took him to the ground.”

There’s no doubt Hamza, who turned over after a fairly limited amateur career, is steadily improving under trainer Dave Clarke. He looked overweight and struggled down the stretch in  his 2022 debut.

Hamza is now a very different physical specimen. “I’ve learnt what you put into boxing, you get out,” he said.

“It’s a journey, with every fight I’m improving and that’s the most important thing – progression. It’s about seeing progress with every fight. The power is coming. The KOs are not showing on my record yet, but I know I have power. The fanbase is growing – I sold a lot of tickets for my last fight.”

It’s hard juggling boxing with the life of a custody officer, he admitted.

“My job is my job,” Hamza said. “It’s hard, I don’t get to train two or three times a day. If I did, I’d be doing even better.

He added: “I want to reach British level. That’s my goal, that’s what I want, but I know there are levels to it.”