I KNOW IM GOING TO BE WORLD CHAMPION

[fightnight]

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2010/i-know ... n-ali-shah

Submitted by Chris Warne on 14 June, 2010 - 20:08

Undefeated welterweight prospect Ali Shah has issued a come and get me plea to Hatton Promotions ahead of his July 4 clash with Lester Walsh at the Beachcomber Club in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

Shah (5-0), who first emerged as a talent under the venerable Brendan Ingle, made an impressive return to the ring against Andrew Patterson at the end of April after enduring a frustrating hiatus from the sweet science.

The 23-year-old Blackburn fighter spent over 15 months in boxing’s wilderness following a split with the Ingle camp in 2009. But after hooking up with new trainer Jason Curtis before the Patterson bout, Shah’s career now appears to be firmly back on track.

Dave Coldwell promoted the contest with Patterson, which Shah won in the second round, and the young welterweight will again be appearing under Coldwell’s banner on July 4. But the arrangements between the pair remain temporary and Shah has identified Ricky Hatton as the man who can help his burgeoning career take off.

“I’m looking to get into the top ten British welterweights as fast as I can and I would love Ricky Hatton to promote me,” Shah said. “I know Ricky Hatton is the best guy around and I know he could get me a British title fight.

“When I fight on TV I’ll blow up because I know I’m the kind of guy who captures people’s attention. Some people are going to hate me but a lot of people are going to love me.”

A Yorkshire ABA finalist, Shah started boxing in 2005 after making the short trip across the Pennines, where he spent his formative years in the sport under the guidance of Brendan Ingle, training in Sheffield for four years at the world renowned St Thomas Boys and Girls Club.

Despite leaving under acrimonious circumstances, Shah is appreciative of the boxing education he received at the Wincobank gym and the right-handed southpaw’s unorthodox and awkward style is emblematic of his early mentor’s teachings.

“I’m still very fond of Brendan, he’s a great man and he’s got a massive heart,” Shah said. “But I didn’t always see eye to eye with his son Dominic (also a trainer). He’s a very strong personality and he kicked me out the gym a couple of times. But I’m not going to complain about it, I’m not going to whine about it, that’s all over as far as I’m concerned.”

(Ed. writes - Trainer Dominic Ingle says Shah never showed the discipline nor maturity necessary to fulfil his potential during his days at Wincobank.)

Shah said he found it difficult to stay focused on his boxing whilst in Sheffield. It was the first time he had lived away from home and city life, coupled with financial worries, sometimes affected his training.

“I had problems with money and I started working to pay my rent, which meant I couldn’t train as often,” he said. “At times I couldn’t eat what I wanted to eat because I didn’t have enough money but Kuram, a good friend of mine, is sponsoring me now so I’m alright with money.”

With financial anxieties no longer an issue and new trainer Jason Curtis presiding over the young pugilist’s development, Shah feels all the ingredients for a successful career are beginning to come together.

Curtis, a former kickboxer who once competed at European level, runs the Kokoro gym in Accrington. Although the establishment is also home to fighters practicing mixed martial arts, Curtis has spent more time recently working with Shah and a small group of young professional boxers in the gym.

Unfortunately, Curtis is not currently in possession of a professional training licence and has so far been unable to take his place in Shah’s corner. He has been told he will have to wait until September to complete the BBBofC’s course, which he must pass to qualify, and he is therefore likely to be absent from Shah’s corner again on July 4.

“It’s a real shame because he’s happy and comfortable with me in the gym,” Curtis said. “I wasn’t able to be in his corner for his last fight in Rotherham (against Patterson) and it’s not looking good at the moment for his next fight against Lester Walsh. It’s just a case of if and when they run the course. I’ll travel wherever to do it.”

Having no cornerman is a concern for Shah but the lanky fighter, who stands at 6ft 2in tall, is still supremely confident he can triumph over Lester ‘Leggy’ Walsh. “It’s not an ideal situation, but I’m still going to knock him out in style. I’m going to stand him on his head and make him look stupid,” Shah said.

“Training is going well. I’ve been doing a lot of strength training with Jason. He’s got the experience in kickboxing and he knows how to get me super strong and give me that knockout power. That’s all I need to add to my game because I’ve got the technique.”

Brendan Ingle had previously tipped his former fighter to one day scale the upper echelons of the sport and Shah, who exudes confidence, is certain he can go on to become a world champion. “I have got faith in my mental and physical abilities,” he said. “I know if I train hard enough I can do whatever I want in the sport.

“I talk the talk but I can walk the walk. I’ve nearly knocked out all of my opponents so far and I hit them so hard they shake in their boots. I have got bottle and I’m not scared of anyone. I have got no problems boxing anyone in the top ten, I think I should be in the top ten at the moment.”

And Jason Curtis echoes his young trainee’s sentiments: “He’s got a tremendous amount of skill and he’s extremely talented. I just feel he needs to work a little more on his strength. He’s throwing more punches, getting more combinations off, and the circuits and sparring we’ve been doing are working because he’s looking in great shape.”

Shah does concede he needs to get more rounds under his belt before he is ready to mount a British title challenge, but the young switch-hitter looks like one boxing aficionados should look out for and his final message to me was unambiguous: “I know I’m going to be a world champion.”<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment-->

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Good luck Ali.