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Amir Imam is eager to become boxing’s junior welterweight champion.
The undefeated 24-year-old will take his next step toward that goal when he faces Walter Castillo in a 10-round co-feature on Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
Imam (16-0, 14 KO) and Castillo (25-2, 18) will battle ahead of Showtime Championship Boxing’s main event, former middleweight champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. taking on Andrzej Fonfara in a 12-round light heavyweight bout.
Imam, a Heavyweight Factory product who began his pro career at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood in November 2011, said he’s ready for whatever Castillo throws at him.
“I can box, but I can also slug it out,” Imam said. “It all depends how the other guy fights.”
Veteran trainer Stacey McKinley, who has worked with Imam for three years, said the Pompano Beach up-and-comer is a dedicated fighter with exceptional skills.
“This kid is a throw-back, no-nonsense fighter,” McKinley said. “His mindset in the ring is to destroy and be dangerous.”
It doesn’t hurt that Imam is quicker, more powerful, has a surprising 74-inch reach and stands three inches taller than the Nicaraguan slugger.
A one-time Olympic hopeful, Imam is coming off of a wild fifth-round tech- nical knockout of Fidel Maldonado Jr. in mid-January in his first fight in Las Vegas. The victory, which featured five knockdowns, moved the Albany, N.Y. native to No. 4 in the WBA rankings and WBC’s No. 7.
“Amir has developed real fast,” McKinley said. “I can’t say I’m surprised. In my 40 years in this business, he’s implemented the things you need in the boxing ring.”
Imam said he’s not looking past Saturday’s bout, but hopes to land a title fight if he gets past Castillo.