Birmingham’s 10-0-1-(KO5) featherweight Raza Hamza is among a quintet of new signings for leading boxing management company MTK Global.
The 26-year-old Hamza is relishing the opportunity to chase titles and joins newly-turned professionals Alex Bellingham, Jamal Akay, James Hawley and Jacob Lovell in committing to MTK Global.
Hamza said: “MTK Global is the best management company in the world. I saw how quickly they move their fighters and the level of fights they’re making for them.
“I’m glad to be a part of Team MTK Global and I can’t wait to see what the next few years hold for myself now I’ve joined them.
“I feel like I’m capable of challenging anyone at either domestic or world level. I’ve already sparred some of the pound-for-pound best and I held my own.
“Nobody at any level worries me, to be honest but I’d like to take things step by step and achieve my goals at my pace. I’m still improving every day and I have a lot to learn.
“Improvement comes with experience so it’ll help me being in the ring in certain situations. Over the next 12 months, I plan to keep building starting to pick up belts.
“I’ll be looking at winning titles that will earn me a world ranking. For example, I’d like to fight for the WBO European so whoever has that title at the time, that’s who I want to face.”
While Hamza looks to continue his progress to title level, London-based Bellingham, Akay and Hawley eagerly await their debuts alongside Welsh prospect Lovell.
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As he prepares for to fight on the biggest stage of his life, unbeaten light-middleweight Kieron Conway has credited his father for steadying the metaphorical ship at crucial times.
The promising 22-year-old from Northampton (8-0-KO3) has earned a slot on the Amir Khan v Samuel Vargas show at Arena Birmingham on Saturday; a card broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Full of confidence and ambition, Conway readily admits he often needs to be reined in in order to avoid mistakes both in and out of the ring.
Conway said: “I’ve been bad for getting ahead of myself in the past. I’ve been over-eager and my old man has to settle me down.
“It’s not just in the ring but it’s in the gym as well. My Dad is a massive influence on me. I don’t tell him that often though!
“My Dad is there for me 24/7 and no matter what time I try and get hold of him, he’s there. He’s always studying something that we can do to improve.
“As for sparring, we go absolutely everywhere. We’ve been to Liverpool and Manchester recently and I’ve been in with the likes of Tommy Langford and Jason Welborn. I’m still learning so much.
“I’ve learned a lot from the last fight. I was too eager there because I had the wrong mentality and didn’t try to open anything up. There were too many single punches.
“I’m going to settle down a bit and open things up more. Any other time, I could’ve got my last opponent out of there but I went about it the wrong way and it was another experience I’ll learn from.”
Joining Conway on a stacked bill are MTK Global stable-mates Akeem Ennis Brown, Sean McComb and Steven Donnelly.
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Unbeaten bantamweight Sean McGoldrick believes Wales is on the verge of a boxing renaissance ahead of MTK Global’s show in Cardiff on Friday.
The Newport star (7-0-KO2), who won a Commonwealth gold medal as an amateur, fights in front of his home fans at Vale Sports Arena on a card topped by former British and Commonwealth light-middleweight king Liam Williams.
With other local talents such as Jacob Robinson starring on the iFL-streamed card, McGoldrick is relishing the prospect.
McGoldrick said: “I’m really looking forward to Friday. I’m expecting it to be very loud in there and for it to be a great atmosphere.
“I’m excited for my friends and family to get to see me box without having to travel. I’m happy for them and I hope they all have a really good night.
“Liam Williams is probably Wales’ highest-profile boxer. All the fighters coming through look up to him and he’s a great fighter. It’s inspiring to reach the kind of levels he’s achieved and is going to achieve in future.
“Boxing is definitely on the rise and we’ve loads of talent down here. With MTK Global signing more of the Welsh fighters, I think it’s the start of something big.
“I’ll look to fight for a title before the end of this year. Sometimes it doesn’t work out but personally I think I’m ready to push on and start fighting for these titles.”
Joining McGoldrick and Williams on the stacked Cardiff card is MTK Global stable-mate Robinson along with a host of other big local names.
Watch all the action this Friday on iFL from 6.30pm.