Qais Ashfaq will have the IBO Continental featherweight title in his possession if he can pick up another win on West Midlands turf.
He goes for glory as part of BCB Promotions’ next offering at the Hangar Events Venue, in Wolverhampton, on the Sunday night of November 13.
Ashfaq has been paired with Ghana’s Gabriel Odoi Lareya, a durable 32-year-old former West African champion of 29 pro fights.
The Englishman from Leeds, aged 29, plans to add an IBO bauble to a WBA Continental belt won earlier on in his pro career.
Big things are still expected of the 2016 Olympian and 2015 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, who has amassed a 10-1 pro record, with five TKOs.
Only Marc Leach has outpointed him in the pro ranks and Ashfaq has beaten the likes of Ashley Lane and Joe Ham himself.
Ashfaq’s last outing came on a BCB card at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, on July 30, after a long lay-off that saw him change trainer, from Angel Fernandez to Lee Beard.
He eventually smashed through Alexandru Ionita, dropping and halting the Romanian visitor in the sixth and final round, with just 36 seconds of the contest left.
The formidable southpaw marked his return to action in style and is looking for more of the same in a title situation, with another accolade on the line.
He said: “My last fight went perfect, in terms of the result. I got almost all of the rounds in, forced a stoppage and showed that I carry the power in both hands.
“The opponent was tougher than I thought he would be. I hurt him in every round, put him down and he still got back up. He took a lot of punishment.
“The knockdown was a short right hook to the head and a left uppercut to the ribs finished him off. Hopefully, I can do something similar next time.
“I got a telling off in the corner because, for the first two or three rounds, I was trying too hard for the knockout. I was getting the frustration out of not boxing in 19 months.
“My coach (Lee Beard) told me to get back to doing what I do best and the stoppage will come. He was right, I punch harder when I’m relaxed.
“Now it’s time to get back into the title mix and I genuinely believe that I can become a world champion one day. This is a proper little title fight for me.
“I’ve got a Ghanian dangerman to overcome. He’s strong, game and never gives up. He’s only been stopped once and that was when his corner threw the towel in.
“I’m happy to be coming back to the West Midlands. It would have been nice to have a homecoming, but I’m 11 fights into my pro career and I still haven’t boxed in Leeds yet!”
Tickets for the Hangar bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.
