Grounded boxing talent Junaid Bostan takes Naseem Hamed comparisons in his stride

The Rotherham stylist's sixth straight win, against Ryan Amos at Sheffield Arena on July 1, attracted the normal glad-handing associated with the sport of boxing.

After just two rounds of his eventual 79-73 points victory over the Central Area champion from Nottingham, a TV commentator remarked: "I don't use this lightly, there are just shades of Naseem Hamed style which had been bred him into him."

The broadcaster then made references to the “brilliant fundamentals” and use of unorthodox angles to launch punches, as well as “little bits of swag” that both boxers share. 

A flamboyant, but not always popular millionaire, Hamed was one of the most entertaining and lightning-fast boxers that world sport has ever produced and he won multiple featherweight championships.

Similar trappings of fame may indeed be on the horizon for Bostan and within a short time of his victory over Amos he was boarding a plane for a holiday in Dubai.

Hamed (now 49) is one of the Eastwood-born super welterweight's all-time heroes and he appreciates any comparison.

 But the former Clifton School pupil is not going to let it go to his head.

 “Being called a superstar and being compared to a great like Naz is a massive, massive compliment. It must mean I am doing something right. But I can't let things like that get to my head. I just have to keep doing what I am doing. I have got good people around me and I am doing well. 

 "”People can change but I don't believe I will. People forget I am barely 18 months into my (professional) career,” he said.

“With that comes pressure, but I am grateful for the opportunities I have been having.

“I am only 21 and have not even fully grown into my man-strength.

“I am nowhere near my prime, and I need to mature in and out of the ring.

“I don't want to sign negative but I am never content, never completely happy and I want to be better.

“That is my passion and that is my obsession. No disrespect to anybody else but I could not be a regular worker, nine to five.

“I am going to carry on working hard and diligently,” he told the Advertiser.

Bostan admits he occasionally showboats in the ring, but said that was not a sign of personal arrogance.

“I would not say I am an arrogant boy.

“Some people will like me, some won't; I am Marmite.

“You have to be strong-headed in this game.

“But I do think most people see me for what I am, a nice lad. Matchroom (promoters) see potential in myself and I want to progress further...I have high expectations of myself.”

The Rotherham stylist's sixth straight win, against Ryan Amos at Sheffield Arena on July 1, attracted the normal glad-handing associated with the sport of boxing.

After just two rounds of his eventual 79-73 points victory over the Central Area champion from Nottingham, a TV commentator remarked: "I don't use this lightly, there are just shades of Naseem Hamed style which had been bred him into him."

The broadcaster then made references to the “brilliant fundamentals” and use of unorthodox angles to launch punches, as well as “little bits of swag” that both boxers share. 

A flamboyant, but not always popular millionaire, Hamed was one of the most entertaining and lightning-fast boxers that world sport has ever produced and he won multiple featherweight championships.

Similar trappings of fame may indeed be on the horizon for Bostan and within a short time of his victory over Amos he was boarding a plane for a holiday in Dubai.

Hamed (now 49) is one of the Eastwood-born super welterweight's all-time heroes and he appreciates any comparison.

 But the former Clifton School pupil is not going to let it go to his head.

 “Being called a superstar and being compared to a great like Naz is a massive, massive compliment. It must mean I am doing something right.

"”But I can't let things like that get to my head. I just have to keep doing what I am doing. I have got good people around me and I am doing well. 

 "”People can change but I don't believe I will. People forget I am barely 18 months into my (professional) career,” he said. “With that comes pressure, but I am grateful for the opportunities I have been having.

“I am only 21 and have not even fully grown into my man-strength. I am nowhere near my prime, and I need to mature in and out of the ring.

“I don't want to sign negative but I am never content, never completely happy and I want to be better.

“That is my passion and that is my obsession. No disrespect to anybody else but I could not be a regular worker, nine to five.

“I am going to carry on working hard and diligently,” he told the Advertiser.

Bostan admits he occasionally showboats in the ring, but said that was not a sign of personal arrogance.

“I would not say I am an arrogant boy.

“Some people will like me, some won't; I am Marmite.

“You have to be strong-headed in this game.

“But I do think most people see me for what I am, a nice lad. Matchroom (promoters) see potential in myself and I want to progress further...I have high expectations of myself.”

The Rotherham stylist's sixth straight win, against Ryan Amos at Sheffield Arena on July 1, attracted the normal glad-handing associated with the sport of boxing.

After just two rounds of his eventual 79-73 points victory over the Central Area champion from Nottingham, a TV commentator remarked: "I don't use this lightly, there are just shades of Naseem Hamed style which had been bred him into him."

The broadcaster then made references to the “brilliant fundamentals” and use of unorthodox angles to launch punches, as well as “little bits of swag” that both boxers share. 

A flamboyant, but not always popular millionaire, Hamed was one of the most entertaining and lightning-fast boxers that world sport has ever produced and he won multiple featherweight championships.

Similar trappings of fame may indeed be on the horizon for Bostan and within a short time of his victory over Amos he was boarding a plane for a holiday in Dubai.

Hamed (now 49) is one of the Eastwood-born super welterweight's all-time heroes and he appreciates any comparison.

 But the former Clifton School pupil is not going to let it go to his head.

 “Being called a superstar and being compared to a great like Naz is a massive, massive compliment.

“It must mean I am doing something right.

"”But I can't let things like that get to my head.

“I just have to keep doing what I am doing.

“I have got good people around me and I am doing well. 

 "”People can change but I don't believe I will.

“People forget I am barely 18 months into my (professional) career,” he said.

“With that comes pressure, but I am grateful for the opportunities I have been having.

“I am only 21 and have not even fully grown into my man-strength.

“I am nowhere near my prime, and I need to mature in and out of the ring.

“I don't want to sign negative but I am never content, never completely happy and I want to be better.

“That is my passion and that is my obsession. No disrespect to anybody else but I could not be a regular worker, nine to five."

“I am going to carry on working hard and diligently,” he told the Advertiser.

Bostan admits he occasionally showboats in the ring, but said that was not a sign of personal arrogance.

“I would not say I am an arrogant boy. Some people will like me, some won't; I am Marmite. You have to be strong-headed in this game.

“But I do think most people see me for what I am, a nice lad. Matchroom (promoters) see potential in myself and I want to progress further...I have high expectations of myself.”