THE professional boxing scene has been a little quiet in Bradford this year so far, but this summer is shaping up rather nicely.
Not only did young Bradford resident Francis Kershaw make it six wins from six in his career so far on Saturday night, but two more of the district’s brightest talents are set for action in just over a fortnight’s time.
Keighley’s Ibrahim Nadim (9-1), trained by Ricky Hatton, was going along nicely in his career, until he was rocked by a shock defeat to Bulgaria Tinko Banabakov last March, his first professional loss.
He has not fought in the intervening 15 months, but the 25-year-old featherweight is due back in the ring at the De Vere Whites Hotel in Bolton on Saturday, June 29, against an as-yet unannounced opponent.
The night before that, Bradford talent Mohammed Subhaan (6-0) is on the hunt for a seventh professional win of his career.
The 24-year-old lightweight set for a Friday night under the lights at Barnsley’s Metrodome, though like Nadim, his opponent has also yet to be announced.
Mohammed Subhaan (left) has made a bright start to his professional boxing career, and he will hope that continues later this month. (Image: Kamran Khan.)
Subhaan grabbed his sixth career win in the professional ranks at the same Metrodome venue in February, when he defeated Jahfieus Faure on points.
Like Subhaan, Kershaw is 24 and has six professional wins from six to his name.
But he fights at light-heavyweight, and Saturday night gave him his first chance to make a mark in the division since he beat Dylan Courtney in February.
As he did back then, Kershaw cruised to a comfortable points win, winning every one of his six rounds against Perry Howe at Oldham Leisure Centre.
Another Bradford light-heavyweight, Connor Lawrence (8-0) will be looking to ensure his unbeaten professional record does not disappear next month.
He is pencilled in to fight at the John Charles Centre for Sport on Saturday, July 13, again an as-yet unnamed opponent.
A week after that Fezan Shahid (2-2-2) is due to be on home soil at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.
He does not yet know who he is due to be facing in that bout on Saturday, July 20, though the 32-year-old is unlikely to take the easy option.
Last October, he lost narrowly on points to unbeaten Frazer Morgan in Derby, and he secured a draw against Alfie Clegg in Tolworth 10 months prior to that.
That is the only fight Clegg, the current IBO World Youth Flyweight champion, has not won in his professional career to date.
Shahid is set to be on the same Cedar Court Hotel card next month as Bradford heavyweight Dan Garber (6-3), who has been pencilled in to take on journeyman Ryan Labourn.
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