HAMED Ghaz is finally back in the ring on Saturday, and he has called on Myron Mills to stop dodging their prospective English Lightweight title fight.

Undercliffe boxer Ghaz (17-0) is fighting experienced Russian Rustem Fatkhullin this weekend in Oldham, after spending 13 months out of the ring following a fine televised victory over Liam Shinkwin last June.

The 25-year-old, nicknamed “Hurricane”, has been unlucky at times, and has also questioned why other boxers seem keen to avoid him.

He said: “I would have had my first-ever title fight last year, the IBO Continental Lightweight one against Vincenzo Finiello, but it got postponed by Covid then cancelled by bad weather.

“I am scheduled to fight for the English Lightweight title against Myron Mills, but he keeps dodging it.

“Myself and my manager Kevin (Maree) have gone to the British Boxing Board of Control, who had to give him a time window in which to fight me, otherwise he’ll have to vacate his title.

“They’ve given him until September, so if I win on Saturday, and get that fight out of the way, I’m scheduled to fight Myron on Sky Sports in a couple of months for that English Lightweight title.

“If he doesn’t show up, it’ll have to be me against someone else, as I’m the mandatory title challenger.”

Even Saturday’s fight has had its issues, with Ghaz saying: “Nobody seems to want to fight me in the UK, and I’ve had three opponents pull out of this bout in the last week.

“How long can they keep running away for though?

“I’m top of the bill on Saturday now, with (Brighouse’s) Jimmy First seeing his Central Area title opponent withdraw with a medical issue.

“I offered to fight Jimmy for that Central Area title this weekend, since we’re both at the same weight, but he didn’t want to.

“I know Jimmy outside of the ring, and he’s a nice lad, so if he didn’t fancy it that’s fair enough, there’s nothing I can do.”

So a bout against Fatkhullin it is, and Ghaz won’t be taking the 29-year-old lightly.

He said: “The biggest fight for me coming up is that English title fight, but I can’t look past my opponent on Saturday first.

“He’s only been stopped twice I think in 40-odd bouts.

“He’s tough and strong, and wants to fight. He’s more experienced and older than me too.

“He’ll want to put on a good show, but so do I, and I need to win in style.”

Ghaz is looking forward to welcoming lots of his supporters down to Oldham too, saying: “There are plenty of people coming, and that fanbase keeps growing.

“I’m getting more and more supporters from Bradford, as well as from places nearby like Keighley and Halifax.”

Contact Ghaz directly for tickets on 07455 599995 or via his Facebook and Instagram pages.

Tickets are £60 for ringside and £40 for standard.