Ali flies flag for diabetic boxers
MUHAMMAD Ali will make history tonight when he becomes the first ever UK boxer with type one diabetes to make their professional debut – and he hopes that can inspire others to also join the paid ranks.
The Rochdale boxer is part of a packed bill at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, which also features the likes of Marc Leach, Louis Norman, Danny Wright, Lyndon Arthur, Charlie Schofield and a number of other up and coming prospects.
It’s been a long journey for Ali to try and get his professional license, with the Rochdale Observer previously revealing how he had to battle for three years to prove to the British Boxing Board of Control that his diabetes would not affect him in the ring.
With the help of those around him, Ali was able to present a case to the BBBofC, and he was finally granted his license earlier this year.
He was praised by many people for not giving up on his dream, including other amateur boxers who also have type one diabetes. Ali can’t wait to get his professional career started, and now hopes he has paved the way for anybody else in his position.
“I’m passionate about what I’m doing and I can’t wait to get the journey started. It’s been a long time coming, and let’s see if I can bring other diabetics into boxing,” he said. “I want to see what I’m all about. I’ve had a good break, but now I’ve got a good team around me and I can’t wait for my debut.”
Ali heads into his professional debut after an extremely successful amateur career, where he won tournaments such as the Haringey Box Cup and the Celtic Box Cup.
The 25-year-old is now trained by Alex Matvienko at the Elite Boxer Gym in Bolton, where several other impressive talents are also based. Ali is enjoying working with Matvienko and believes the gym is in a really good place at the moment.
“Alex is a good trainer. I’ve been here since January but I’ve known Alex since I was an amateur. I’m always asking him to send me fights to study and we’re always talking boxing,” he said.
“The gym is booming at the moment. We have guys like Mickey Ellison, Jack Flatley, Jack McGann, Osman Aslam and a few new lads too, so we’re all bouncing off of each other. We go to good gyms to spar too, so I’m very happy with the lads I’m working with.”
Tickets for Ali’s professional debut tonight are still available, priced at £35 for unreserved seats and £60 for ringside seats. They can be bought from the box office at Victoria Warehouse.