Top amateur star Umar Sadiq insists he is ready to hit the big time after signing a long-term promotional deal with Frank Warren.

Londoner Umar has already had a taste of television when he played Anthony Joshua’s double in a recent television advert.

And now he is confident of matching Joshua’s success at the highest level by becoming the next British Super-Middleweight to become a household name.

He isn’t shy either and is already eyeing up the British title after being encouraged by sparring with World Champions James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders.

“It is time to take it to the next stage,” said Sadiq, who boxed for England and Nigeria, narrowly missing out on representing the African nation at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I think five novice level fights and then I’ll be ready to start knocking on British titles.

“With the confidence I have I believe I can achieve a lot in the professional game by winning major titles.

“I have no doubt in my ability. As an amateur I boxed the best in the World. I haven’t fought as a professional yet, but I have sparred with world champions and never been left wanting.”

Umar who graduated in accountancy at London Metropolitan University has also given up a highly-paid accountants job in the city to follow his boxing dream.

The two-time Haringey Box Cup winner added: “I know what level I’m at and I can step up at anytime, people will realise that soon enough.

“I bring something fresh, something different. I am not your typical fighter who just wants to talk about boxing.

“I have a bit of intellect behind me and can mix with different people in different environments and I plan to entertain out the ring as much as I do inside.”

Details of Umar’s eagerly awaited professional debut will be announced in the near future.

Welsh strongman Dale Evans enters his British title challenge to Bradley Skeete next month galvanised by the opportunity to honour the late Mike Towell, writes Glynn Evans.

The Dundee braveheart tragically passed away shortly after conceding to Evans in a British title eliminator at Glasgow’s St Andrews Sporting Club in late September.

The three time Welsh junior titlist and British CYP champion has been rightly lauded for the dignity and compassion with which he has conducted himself through what is just about the gravest chapter that any fighting man can encounter.

‘There were some very dark days, of course, Mike will always be at the back of my mind for as long as I’m boxing,’ states the 25 year old from St Clears, Carmarthenshire who scored a brace of knockdowns en route to a fifth round stoppage win.

‘After it happened, I just locked myself away, eating rubbish, picturing a little boy without his daddy.  I was numb. I was constantly questioning whether I wanted to continue boxing. It dawned that it could’ve been me (injured).

‘Initially, I couldn’t go near the gym for a good six weeks after but I decided it would only be right to carry on, not just for me but for Mike’s family. Besides, boxing was my only trade, the one thing I was half decent at, something I’d worked really hard at mastering since I was nine years old.

‘I didn’t want to be looking back with ‘What ifs.....’ 15 to 20 years down the line, seeing my peers fulfil their potential and whinging that it could’ve been me.’

Evans acknowledges that his re-entry to the sport following the tragedy was eased by the manner in which he was warmly embraced by the Towell family when he attended the fallen soldier’s funeral in October.

‘Mike’s mum Tracey gave me a big hug and the whole family urged me to stick with the boxing,’ says Dale.

‘Because I had nothing in the pipeline, I didn’t spar for a good while after returning to the gym. Very few boxers will ever experience what I went through and that was pretty difficult. But once the bell goes, your mind set changes. Your fight head is on and the focus is there.’

When he gently eased back into the fray with a four round rust-shedder against Stourbridge centurion Kevin McCauley at Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall in May, ‘Iron Mike’ and a St Andrews flag were emblazoned on his waistband in homage to Towell.

‘A few complemented me on that but it was the very least I could do,’ says the self-employed construction worker.

‘That was the tester. I badly needed that to see how I’d cope, to get that feeling of fight night again; giving and taking shots. I felt I coped with it well.’

But Dale knows that nothing would glorify Mike’s memory more than for him to upset Skeete and capture the British title that both he and Towell fought so hard for the right to contest last autumn.

‘It’s always been my boxing dream to win the British title and it was also Mike’s dream. Now hopefully we can do it together. I owe it to him,’ concludes Evans.

‘WHEN I win the title on 8th July, it’ll be very emotional. Nothing would make me happier than taking the (Lonsdale) Belt up to Dundee and showing it to Mike’s family and friends.’

Elsewhere on the card Light-Heavyweight monster Anthony Yarde challenges Richard Baranyi for the WBO European belt; Darryll Williams and Jahmaine Smyle rematch for the English Super-Middleweight belt after their Fight of the Year contender in April; Sam McNess gets his first pro title shot against Southern Area Super-Welterweight Champion Asinia Byfield; undefeated Heavyweight Hughie Fury makes his eagerly-awaited return and teenage Heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois looks to move to 4-0.

Ricky Summers is ready to unleash his frustrations on Frank Buglioni and finally rip the British Light-Heavyweight title away from the champion when they clash at The O2 on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

The unbeaten Tipton man has been waiting in the wings for a crack at Buglioni since February when it was first announced that the pair would meet for the Wise Guy’s British strap.

A sparring injury followed by a cancelled show have meant that Summers has had to bide his time –‘Digger’ will finally get his hands on Buglioni and, he hopes, the Lord Lonsdale belt.

“It’s been frustrating but that’s boxing,” said Summers. “Frank got injured, then a show was pulled, so it’s been a longer wait than we imagined. I was able to get out in March and blow away a few cob-webs and I feel like I’ve been in camp forever, which isn’t a bad thing. I’m feeling the best I’ve ever felt.”

The postponements have allowed Summers to spend more time with his new training team of Richie Ghent and Robert Wright whilst allowing him to undertake further strength and conditioning sessions with Des Witter.

“The postponements have given me and the team more time to work on things in the gym,” he added. “Perhaps it’s been a blessing in disguise because this is the best I have ever felt.

“I'm with a new team now and it’s given us time to gel as a team. Working with Des has been great, he trains the Yafais and Jamie Cox who are flying, and I am feeling the benefits too.

“I’m in the shape of my life and the delays have only made me hungrier to get my hands on that British Title. We are now top of the bill on a Sky Sports show, which is an added incentive.”

Buglioni has declared that he’ll win the Lord Lonsdale belt outright before targeting a showdown with WBA champion Nathan Cleverly - confident that he’ll do a job on the challenger, but Summers says he’s in for a rude awakening.

“Let's see how long he lasts – he'll be shocked when he gets in there with me,” said Summers. “I haven't got the experience he has, he's boxed at World level and I'm not going to bad mouth him as he's a good fighter, but I've got the ability to beat him and do it well.

“Frank is a good fighter but I’m confident of getting the win and bringing the belt back home to the Black Country. The British belt is one if the best out there, it's a World title fight for me so I've left no stone unturned for this - 100 per cent this ends in a Ricky Summers win.”

Summers’ clash with Buglioni is part of a huge night of action in London as Team GB Rio Olympic bronze medal man Joshua Buatsi makes his hotly-anticipated pro debut.

Reece Bellotti goes for his first pro title against Jamie Speight with the WBC International Silver Featherweight strap on the line, Ted Cheeseman also fights for his first belt against English Super-Welterweight champion Matthew Ryan in a British title eliminator and there’s a rivalry brewing between London Cruiserweights Isaac Chamberlain and Lawrence Okolie who both have six rounders on the slate.

Welterweight talent Conor Benn returns from injury and there’s action for Jake Ball, Danny Dignum, Craig Richards and Morgan Jones.

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