Midlands title fight? The thought of it depresses me - Amir

Amir Abubaker...will fight for 11st belt in Birmingham in December

AMIR Abubaker, the menacing fighter with thunderous power, surprised me with his reaction to news of a forthcoming title fight.

I expected a degree of excitement from the Coventry hope following the announcement he’ll face Callum Hill for the vacant Midlands light-middleweight belt. The unbeaten pair will meet on Anthony Manning’s December 15 show at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms.

Afterall, the opportunity has been a long time coming for Amir. He was scheduled to face champ Ashlee Eales, but the titleholder vacated.

Afterall, it’s his first crack at a pro title.

Instead, the 24-year-old wrong-footed this writer by declaring: “The thought of it depresses me, if I’m honest.”

It’s not that Amir, who has won four of his six bouts inside distance, has concerns about the risks posed by Stoke’s Hill who is no slouch with four straight victories.

Far from it. The Kurdish KO artist will never be accused of lacking confidence. If anything, he considers it all a little bit beneath him.

If the meek will inherit the earth, Abubaker – a barber by day – won’t be among them.

“This could’ve been my debut,” he said about the forthcoming battle.

“I want to get on big stages, instead I’m back to small hall shows and selling tickets. The thought of it depresses me.

“Last time I was on a DAZN show, which was great. It’s a bit like having a really nice car and swapping it for a s*** one. I want to get on big shows.” That’s not a knock at the show’s quality, it’s merely that Abubaker believes he should be on major, televised bills.

“I was always the unannounced Midlands champ,” he said. “I have been stopping people who don’t normally get stopped.

“I know nothing about him, but if I’m straight (fit), I don’t fear anyone.”

Amir, who arrived here from war-torn Iraq as a four-year-old, does possess frightening power. He showed that last time out by demolishing Serge Ambomo – noted for durability - with an uppercut that near took his head from his shoulders.

And the man oozes menace. He has the brooding, broken features of a very hard man.

“I don’t even try to put power in the punches,” he said. “I try to use my boxing IQ because I always want to be ahead of the game. If you’re not ahead of the game, things can get difficult.”

The Hill fight will, however, be Amir’s first pro outing at light-middle. Will coming down to 11st takes its toll on a boxer who hasn’t really been close to the division in previous outings?

“It’ll be the first time I’ve made that weight,” he admitted, “but it’s a day before weight-in so I should be fine.”

In Iraq, Abubaker already enjoys super-star status. It is only a matter of time, he believes, before Britain bestows on him the same acclaim.

He one told me he was destined to become this country’s first Kurdish world champ.

When you’re aiming that high, being a little underwhelmed by a forthcoming Midlands title fight is understandable.