BOXING: Family man Navid Mansouri ready for one last battle

The former English Super Welterweight champion believes he has one fight left in him, despite not campaigning since taking Kieron Conway the distance in a WBA Inter-Continental reverse back in 2020.

The 34-year-old former Clifton School and Thomas Rotherham College pupil, and his family, live in Marbella, Spain, and he had been harbouring hopes of fighting again at the Magna Centre.

But it has not worked out that way. Mansouri, who grew up in East Dene and Kimberworth Park, had to delay his hopes to climb back into the ring in the UK because of the Covid lockdown, work and family commitments.

It’s a hard one but I have still got one more fight left,” he said.

“I can call it a day hopefully by the end of this year...I can get it done if the family can give me six weeks free!”ansouri doesn't want a walk-over opponent to sign out with.

He added: “I would like my last fight against someone decent, not a push-over. That's why I am taking my time to make sure I have time to prepare well enough.

“Life is busy with two kids, it’s not easy, but it's fun having such a good family.

"I am looking to have my last fight here in Spain.”

Navid and his son.

Mansouri wants to draw the final curtain on a career that dates back to 2009, when he made his professional debut in Barnsley.

He won the English title four years later and defended the belt three times, including a fascinating contest against Sheffield's Sam Sheedy at Magna in 2015.

Millers football fan Nav, who used to play for Rotherham Rangers Junior FC, may not have boxed for almost three years but he doesn't want to go out of boxing on the back of his points' defeat to Conway in Brentwood.

He has fought five times in Spain and wants to go out on a high on his sixth outing there. Mansouri has won 20 of his 26 pro fights, with six of his victories by way of knockouts.