British-Bangladeshi Boxer Hamza Uddin Aims to Be First World Champion

A professional boxer has stated that becoming the first British-Bangladeshi world champion is his “dream,” ahead of an upcoming fight this weekend. Hamza Uddin, 21, began boxing at the age of two, attributing his passion for the sport to his father, Siraj, who was also a boxer. The Walsall-based flyweight is scheduled to compete against Benn Norman at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday afternoon. Uddin mentioned he was “working hard and staying focused and disciplined” since turning professional earlier this year, following his signing by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom team, which is based in Brentwood, Essex. Uddin noted that his father received training from Kash Gill, a British South Asian four-time World Kickboxing Champion. “My father was a boxer back in his day, he was only starting up but he had an injury so then he stopped,” said Uddin. He added, “There’s a video of me on my second birthday in my nappies; I can barely walk but I’m punching the bags.” Uddin also recalled, “I was a chubby little nerd when I was seven or eight, but my dad kept me disciplined.” He further explained, “My first fight was at 10 years old and that’s when we thought this was serious; we thought I could be something special.” Uddin withdrew from Wolverhampton University, where he had secured a place to study business management after academic achievement, in order to pursue his boxing aspirations. He commented, “Every day I am boxing, I am achieving something new for my people, but to be a world champion and the first from a nation, if you deep it, that is a massive achievement.” Uddin continued, “It’s not just a dream, it is actually something very possible and that’s why I am working hard and staying focused and disciplined.” According to his Matchroom profile, Uddin’s professional record stands at two wins from two fights, which includes one knockout. Uddin noted that British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan has served as an inspiration for many South Asian boxers. However, he added, “But in terms of having a role model and having someone Bangladeshi, there is absolutely no-one to look up to.” He explained, “That’s why the dream is so strong, because one day if I can do it then maybe one day little kids can say Hamza Uddin has done it, so we can do it.” Uddin also mentioned, “You get the whisperers who are like ‘what is he doing boxing for, it’s not a brown man sport, it’s not a Bengali sport. “But that’s pushed me on further.” He expressed, “I’m proud to have my community behind me; it spurs me on; it is a bit more pressure; more people are counting on me to win.” Uddin concluded, “I can’t let them down.” The 5ft 7in fighter further stated: “Some people say, I would have been in jail if I wasn’t boxing, but I’m not no gangster.” He clarified, “I don’t mess about; I’m a good clean kid; I would have been working in an office.” Alex Le Guével, head of community development at Matchroom, remarked: “You can box being any size or gender.” Le Guével added, “Boxing focuses on a lot of social issues, especially gangs.” He concluded, “A boxing gym is a positive version of a gang.” Uddin’s upcoming fight is scheduled as part of the undercard for the Sunny Edwards v Galal Yafia flyweight WBC interim bout, also taking place in Birmingham. Information regarding Essex news is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Further information on their approach to external linking is available.