The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Farooq insists young Stuart has big future
Scottish ring star Kash Farooq insists undefeated north boxer Billy Stuart will play a role in an exciting future for Scottish boxing.
WBC International Silver champion Farooq, a former British title holder, is closing in on a world title shot as Scottish boxing continues to rise.
Josh Taylor recently made history by becoming the UK’s first undisputed world super-lightweight champion.
Farooq has sparred with Stuart as part of the Northern Sporting Club undefeated fighter’s preparation for an IBF Youth super-bantamweight title fight.
Stuart aka “The Butcher” will face Mexican Alejandro Jair Gonzalez for the vacant title at Hamilton Academical’s New Douglas Park stadium on Saturday July 31.
Aberdeen’s undefeated welterweight Dean Sutherland will also fight a Mexican on the bill for an international title.
Sutherland will go up against Jose Antonio Delgado Velazquez for the WBO Youth title.
Both bouts will be screened live on Fightzone TV.
Farooq said: “It is very important to spar with boxers like Billy as he is one of the top boys in Scotland.
“The future for Scottish boxing is looking bright.
“Josh just became undisputed world champion and David McAllister (Stuart’s coach) has some of his boys in Aberdeen signing big contracts with Fightzone.
“Things are going well and if the boys keep winning they can get the big fights up to Scotland.
“There are more promoters now than there has ever been and more money being pumped into boxing.
“There are great opportunities for every fighter to showcase their skills.”
Farooq beat Alexander Espinoza in April this year to claim the Nicaraguan’s WBC international silver title.
The 25-year-old, aka “Untouchable”, will defend his WBC belt against an as yet unconfirmed opponent at Matchroom Fight Camp on August 14.
Farooq said: “It was definitely worth the twoand-a-half hours up the motorway from Glasgow to spar with Billy.
“Billy is the type of boxer I need to spar and he has a good fight coming up.”
Farooq is a Londsdale Belt winner having successfully defended the British bantamweight title on four occasions.
He controversially lost that title in a sensational British and Commonwealth unifier title fight split decision loss to Lee McGregor.
Influential promoter Eddie Hearn recently hailed Farooq as “one of the brightest young stars in world boxing, not just in the bantamweight division” and confirmed beating Espinoza would be the launchpad to world title shots.