By Terence Dooley

“The Mongolian-cum-British boxer meets The Last Of The Mohicans” may sound like a movie mash-up made in heaven, but it is also an apt description for the union of former British flyweight champion Shinny Bayaar and Manchester-based trainer Bob Shannon after the two men recently joined forces in a bid to propel the 34-year-old southpaw to former glory.  Bayaar will now box out of Shannon’s Fighing Fit gym, he decided to make the move following the retirement of former trainer Jack Doughty and a run of form that has seen him lose his last two of his last five – against two wins and a draw.

Shannon, nicknamed “The Last Of The Mohicans” by his boxers, believes that Bayaar is capable of rediscovering the form that helped him register a memorable decision win over Chris Edwards in 2009.  Bayaar, though, lost the title to Liverpool’s Paul Edwards after a clash of heads in round one of their December 2010 encounter left Bayaar unable to continue, and sans the title. 

A decision defeat to his old nemesis Chris Edwards in December of last year left Bayaar, who moved to Bolton from Mongolia to pursue his boxing career, out in the cold, but Shannon hopes that he can help bring about an Indian summer in the career of Bayaar.

“Shinny came over and had a few training sessions, he was absolutely delighted with how it went and wants to get his title back,” said Shannon when confirming the news to BoxingScene.  “I’m really excited by him.  Fighters come to me when they want their old titles back, so we’re aiming for that British belt.

“Shinny is very strong anyway, so we’re working on technique and the way he delivers his shots to stop the heads coming in as he has picked up cuts before against the two Edwards lads and Ashley Sexton [a split draw in May 2010].  Hopefully we’ll put a stop to that by getting him to pick his shots better.”

He added: “Jack Doughty’s retired now, so Shinny came over because he felt I could make him into a British champion again as I got to the European welterweight title with Matthew Hatton, the British light-middleweight title with Prince Aaron, I took Denton Vassell to the welterweight Commonwealth and Matty Askin is only a few fights away from picking up a cruiserweight title because he learned so much when he lost to Jon Lewis Dickenson [in April].”

Bayaar, 15-6-2 (4), has a high octave style and it can lead to messy fights.  Shannon hopes to channel his boxer’s enthusiasm while retaining those distinctive buzz saw attacks.  “I’m working on a bit more variety in his punching to add to his style,” said Shannon.

“In this division you’re only one win away from a title.  Why not aim for the British then see where that takes him?  I really want to take this kid to a title.  Paul Edwards lost to Kevin Satchell recently, but he is a game lad and will be on his way back soon – maybe they will meet to see who goes on to fight for the Lonsdale [belt].”

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