Hamzah: ‘Diamonds come from pressure’
Hamzah Ahmed…has second fight in Birmingham on October 20
HAMZAH Ahmed is keeping it real as he makes his way in the pro ranks after a successful and memorable debut.
He resumes his efforts at the Holiday Inn Queensway, in Birmingham city centre, on Friday, October 20, under the BCB Promotions banner.
Ahmed made his debut in Birmingham, at the Eastside Rooms, four months ago, topping the bill from the get-go, having sold a large number of tickets.
The 23-year-old super featherweight, Palfrey, Walsall, outpointed Gurjant Singh over four rounds, registering a whitewash 40-36 scoreline.
Manager Anthony Manning and coach Shiney Singh have high hopes for Ahmed, who has a thorough amateur grounding from 65 bouts, 50 wins.
He twice reached the national final of the NAGBC (National Association of Girls and Boys Clubs) competition, along with two semi-final runs in the England Youth Championship.
Outside boxing, Ahmed is a graduate and support worker, but it’s in the ring where “The Poster Boy” feels most at home.
He said: “I started boxing when I was 12 and I had my first fight at 13, so I’d been around for 10 years before I made my pro debut. At first, I was 52kg and I finished at 64kg.
“I’ve turned pro as a super featherweight, but I’m hoping to get down to featherweight. For now, I’m just trying to learn as much as I can in the gym.
“Pleck was my first boxing club, then I went to Walsall Wood until I was 18, when I spent some time at Wellington. I joined Fearless Boxing Academy when I was 19.
“I had all of my senior bouts for Fearless and I won 16 out of 20. Now I’m at Box Smart Elite, with Shiney (Singh) and Anthony (Manning) is my manager, who is looking to push me on.
“I wanted to do more in the amateurs. I did win a gold medal for British Universities (2019 BUCS Championships, at 60kg). I was juggling boxing with studying (at Aston University).
“I’ve got a second-class degree in sociology and social policy, so there’s a career there for me in something like policy work. My head is there, but my heart is in boxing.
“I work part-time (for the Inmind Healthcare Group) with people who have mental health difficulties and learning disabilities, which I enjoy.
“I still live at home. My mum and dad support me loads, which helps me to concentrate on boxing. I’m training harder and harder alongside some talented lads in the gym.
“I do a lot of sparring with Macauley Owen and we go for runs on The Wrekin (Telford). I’ve sparred with Jordan Flynn, too, who is another up-and-coming pro.
“The way I look at it, pressure creates diamonds and I put that on myself, to perform. This time I’ll have my hands up. Having them down, with 8oz gloves on, hurts when you get hit!
“It was a crazy atmosphere when I made my debut, to have 300 people cheering for me. There are not many lads, from Walsall, who are doing what I’m doing.”
*Tickets for the Holiday Inn bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £80 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.