Rotherham boxing prospect lands Arena shot after just 8 minutes in the ring

Rotherham fighter Chris Mulunda has secured his spot on such an event… after just EIGHT minutes of professional boxing!

The Greasbrough super welterweight, 23, has been granted a slot on the Dalton Smith v Alberto Puello world title bout at Sheffield Arena on June 6.

It is an amazing boost considering he has previously boxed just two four-minute pro rounds, both at Doncaster Dome.

And it is a far cry from his original chosen sport – he was once a midfielder for Millmoor Juniors.

Chris, a former pupil at Sitwell Juniors and Saint Pius Catholic High School, says: "Yes, it is definitely a dream come true for me.

"I didn't really expect to be on a show as big as this – with the exposure of being streamed all around the world – so early in my career."

His chance came because of a random conversation between his manager Sunny Edwards and Matchroom matchmaker Tom Dallas.

The Steel City gym athlete explained: "Sunny was in New York to support Dalton's world title fight, and in the after-party, he asked Tom if he could get me on Dalton's first defence. He said yes!

"I was very excited when I found out, walking out at somewhere like the Arena is something I have been visualising since I was at school and college.

"One day I will be top of the bill on a show like that – you don't get into this game if you don't think that way," he said.

"I want to reach the top and Dalton (who became WBC super lightweight champion in January) has shown people in our gym and others that this is possible. He has put the fire in me."

The one time Thomas Rotherham College student has had a varied early life, playing Sunday League football, working as a call centre sales advisor in Wath and learning the fundamentals of boxing at the Millennium gym in Masbrough Street.

He has been a friend of Matchroom professional Junaid Bostan, since he was nine years old, the pair used to hang around together in the Broom Valley area.

Bostan is now 24 and will be looking for his 11th victory on May 2 on a Matchroom bill in Wolverhampton.

"We are similar ages. He's daft and I like to wind him up!" says Chris, who won 27 of 39 amateur fights reaching the 2025 Senior Elite National Final at Derby.

Mulunda, who lives with his mother, turned professional in November and has chalked up two points' victories since then – but nothing on the scale of the opportunity on Smith's card, against an as yet unnamed opponent.

The Pearce Gudgeon-trained fighter will leave it late to decide whether to have a flamboyant ring walk at the Arena: "It all depends on what mood I am in.

"If I want to dance to the ring, I will. But if I think it is just all strictly business, I will just walk out there and get the job done.

"Lots of people will be watching all the different fighters and I will have the chance to show my skills."