Minaaz three fights from a title chance

Minaaz Gurung celebrates after victory over Vincent

MINAAZ Gurung, the fighting force from Nepal, is only three contests away from a Midlands lightweight title chance.

That’s the schedule manager Jon Pegg has mapped out for the Nuneaton based 23-year-old.

Minaaz, whose grandfather served in the Gurkha regiment, edges closer to a bid for the belt on February 22, at Coventry’s Sports Connexion Leisure Club, when he takes part in his first six rounder.

It promises to be a colourful spectacle. Minaaz has a noisy and growing, banner-waving Nepalese fan club. He is, afterall, the only active British pro boxer from their country.

He is a work in progress and, under trainer Lee Spare, has shown steady improvement. Now 5-0, he looked raw and his work rushed in his debut.

Last time out, in November, Minaaz scored his first stoppage, halting Stefan Vincent in four. In the ring, he’s a bundle of fury.

“Within three fights I’m aiming for a shot at the Midlands,” Pegg said.

“He’s shown the right attitude in sparring, he’s fearless and exciting. He isn’t just trying to outpoint people, he’s trying to beat them up.

“It’s a question of working on ring generalship and smoothing the rough edges.”

After halting Vincent, Minaaz told me: “I’m learning to handle the power, but I want to show my boxing ability.

“I’m never going to be overconfident, I’m never going to think, ‘I deserve this’. When the people around me say I’m ready, I’m ready.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, I’m not going to think any greater of myself because of the knockout. I know I have the power, I want to show people my skills.”