Press Release
Sheffield fight fans will get to see two title fights on September 18 at Ponds Forge Arena, with all the action being shown live on exciting new boxing broadcaster – Fightzone.
It’s heavyweight action in the main event with Rotherham’s Kash Ali making the first defence of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) European Title against heavy-handed German, Roman Gorst.
Ali, 19-1 (10), is riding the crest of a wave after the best win of his career in May to win the IBF Euro belt, with an impressive blowout of Czech puncher, Tomas Salek. In great shape, Salek came to the UK with an impressive KO ratio – having stopped 13 of 15 opponents – but was no match for the devastating uppercuts of Ali, who finished his man in three rounds.
Gorst is another puncher that Ali will have to be wary about. The German turned pro in 2018 and in short time has amassed seven wins, six KOs, with a solitary points defeat in October last year when contesting his home country’s heavyweight crown. The 32-year-old is now back to winning ways after picking up a stoppage win in March and will eye Ali as the perfect opportunity to gate-crash the European heavyweight rankings.
Kash, trained by former British heavyweight contender Richard Towers, says he is a much improved fighter – and person – to the man who was disqualified for biting David Price in 2019, despite getting the better of the big Liverpudlian. The 29-year-old knows it’s now or never for his career, and is promising Fightzone and Sheffield fight fans an explosive performance.
“Everything went right against Salek. We trained hard, sparred hard and it was my best performance yet. It was clean cut, good boxing and I took him out in style. We worked on the uppercut, I caught him early on, knew I’d hurt him, and it was the shot that finished him.
“I’ve seen one of Gorst’s fights. He’s got heavy hands and has stopped most of his opponents. He seems like a decent boxer too. His record speaks for itself. He can’t be lucky – he’s knocked out six, and lost on points to a decent kid, so he’s definitely not to be underestimated.
“I’ll just focus on what I do and get the win, no matter what. It may go one round or ten rounds, but I have the power and when I hit him it will have an effect on him. I’ll focus on my boxing and if an opening comes, I’ll take him out.”
Chief support on the night is a fabulous scrap for the Lonsdale Belt between local favourite Tommy Frank and Birmingham’s Matt Windle. This clash for the British Flyweight Title is hugely anticipated, a hard one to call, and has much riding on it for both men. Windle has a deceiving 6-3-1 ledger – with his losses highly disputed – and is full of confidence after a ‘fight of the year’ win over Scotland’s Neil McCubbin in June. Frank, 13-2 (3), is the betting favourite having been the former Commonwealth Super Flyweight champion, but cannot afford any slip ups after consecutive defeats to Mexican bogeyman Hugo Guarneros.
