From nothing you can become something - Masoud

Shabaz Masoud, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, beat Liam Davies for the IBO bantamweight title

“I’m back here now supporting all the local kids because I was one of them kids.”

Those are the words of boxer Shabaz Masoud, who attended one of the Wellington Boxing Academy’s big fight nights at the Seah Stadium to inspire the next generation of boxers.

Masoud, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, beat Liam Davies for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) bantamweight title.

The all-Shropshire fight was won on a split decision in Birmingham, resulting in the 28-year-old continuing an unbeaten record in 14 professional fights.

“Boxing is one of them sports where you can make it – from nothing you can become something,” he said.

“It helps you with everything in life – discipline, respect, being around different minorities, and it teaches you a lot of life skills as well.

“I’ve always said I don’t want to just be a world champion, I want to be a multi-weight world champion. I’m not satisfied yet, I’m still hungry.”

Masoud said his religion, Islam, had also helped him with his boxing.

Praying five times a day had given him discipline, he said, and shown him the importance of being a good person.

“I don’t want filters with my personality, I want everyone to know me for what I am,” he said.

“I’m glad people are realising the kind of person I am, because that’s a big thing.”

'I've never said no'

He remains close to his Telford roots at the Wellington Boxing Academy, where he was raised.

“I’m from Stoke-on-Trent, but all my family are from Telford, so coming down here this has become my family as well,” he said.

He added he would love a fight to now be staged in Stoke-on-Trent.

“I’ve never really called out fighters, or called for fights, I’ve always just let the team decide and I’ve just cracked on. I’ve never said no,” Masoud says.

He won a national title as an amateur, but his pro-career has been stop-start, blighted by injury and inactivity, he admits.

But, he is addressing this after being signed to Eddie Hearn's Essex-based Matchroom team, where he has been trained by Ben Davison, who has previously been a cornerman for Anthony Joshua and coached Tyson Fury.