Shak travels to Paris for Euro title chance

Shakan Pitters…big chance for big time. Pic: Michael Ault

SHAKAN Pitters, possibly the most dapper and elegant member of the blood and bruises business, has landed a golden ticket to the big time.

The tall former British light-heavy champ – a successful catwalk model by day, pro boxer by night – will fight Daniel Blenda Dos Santos for the vacant European title.

But Birmingham’s Shak, near freakishly tall for the division at 6ft 6ins, will have to travel into the Frenchman’s backyard for the opportunity. He and Dos Santos, dubbed The Panther, will face each other on November 9 in the Paris suburb of Ponte Sainte Maxence.

Manager Jon Pegg accepted 35-year-old Pitter can expect few favours away from home.

“It’s going to be more difficult in France,” he said, “it’s going to be more difficult than in England where it was definitely 50-50.

“But it’s definitely winnable. We just have to go over there and really do a job, really do a number on him.”

Pegg’s assessment of Dos Santos, known as the Panther, is correct. Over there, Shak can expect few favours, but he has the boxing ability – broom stave jab, whiplash uppercut - to befuddle an opponent who is strong, but rough round the edges.

The 33-year-old Frenchman may have lost only one of 22, but he was cruelly exposed by Joshua Buatsi in 2021.

At Manchester Arena, Dos Santos was floored in the second, then sparked out by a right hand in the fourth. Frankly, he looked out of his depth.

He’s bounced back with six wins, although the opposition has been undemanding.

Pegg added: “Dos Santos is a tall, well-schooled guy with decent power who comes out throwing big punches. If he wins, this puts Shak back in the mix for everything.”

And “everything” means world title opportunities for a man once within touching distance of stardom.

Pitters, whose dad was a useful pro middleweight, glided effortlessly to the top of the domestic ladder. He made it look easy.

He gained the British title in his 14th contest, barely losing a round on the way, by widely outpointing Chad Sugden.

But Craig Richards stalled Shak’s rise, scoring a stoppage in the champ’s first defence of his British title. Since then, his Eastside team have found it hard to secure meaningful fights.

Pitter was outpointed by Dan Azeez in a 2022 bid to reclaim the Lonsdale Belt and last fought 11 months ago at The Excelsior Sporting Club, Cannock. He has lost only two of 21.

Pitters is carving a successful career as a catwalk model

Away from the ring, Shak, an immensely likeable character, cuts a designer dash: immaculately attired and with chiselled features.

He is, as they say, a cool dude. But, to put things into perspective, I’m a pensioner who wears a cloth cap and selects clothing for comfort, not style.

Jimmy Krankie would cut a dash next to this writer.

Shak, signed by a major modelling agency, is poised to adorn major fashion magazines. 

And he says there are similarities between boxing and the modelling industry. “If you’re not performing in both, there will be questions and consequences,” he said. 

“In some ways, modelling is just as competitive because you have models of all ages, there are a lot of tall people in it. 

“It’s all about your looks, what you know, your characteristics. It probably takes a bit more luck.”

“Unlike a ring walk, when you step on the catwalk you know you’re not going to be punched in the face,” Shakan added. “It came to me quite naturally. 

“I don’t get any of those butterflies. I know I’m not going to trip up, I’m not in high heels or anything. It’s about concentrating on the faces in the audience. You look straight ahead and smile and you have to do five different things in one day.” 

Presently, Shak is concentrating on only one face – Daniel Blenda Dos Santos.

But given time, he could be the first to move from the violence of professional boxing to the front cover of Vogue.