Atif ready to chase titles

ROTHERHAM’S Atif Shafiq is on the hunt for titles after carding his best victory yet at Sheffield Arena.

The 21-year-old lightweight won a terrific tear-up against Bolsolver’s dengerous Jamie Robinson, saying afterwards: “This was the first step on a big ladder for me.”

With just one blip in his first 14 bouts, a defeat against Abdon Cesar a year ago at iceSheffield blotting an otherwise impressive copybook, Shafiq was gunning for a big win against the Derbyshire fighter, especially after a war of words between the two in the build-up.

But Ingle camp fighter Shafiq confounded critics, especially Robinson, who said he didn’t have the stamina by putting his opponent on the canvas inside 30 seconds and going on to drop only two rounds of the eight to take a comfortable 78-74 verdict.

Also on the card, while there was disappointment for Wath’s Josh Wale after his ten round points defeat against Leigh Wood, Rotherham’s Lee Appleyard did notch his fifth win in six.

The 27-year-old lightweight earned a four-round points verdict against Gloucester’s Andy Harris.