Rotherham boxer Nadeem eyes big year after injury setback

The Rotherham super middleweight will box in Manchester on Saturday, June 6, for the first time since taking part in a GBM show in Hull last November.

After leaving Rotherham's Millennium gym in February, he is now represented in the corner by coaching staff from the Gallagher's Gym in Manchester.

He wants to make an impression in his return fight, get a couple more bouts under his belt over the next few months and then head towards a title next year.

The 26-year-old who has knocked out five of his eight conquests in the professional game is relieved the waiting is over.

"It has been a long time out, I picked up an injury (hand) in September, and it got worse when I boxed in November. It is now 99 per cent healed.

"Also GBM haven't had any shows so I had to wait for my contract with them to run out."

Nadeem lives in Manchester for most of the week before returning to his Moorgate home at weekends, when he helps the family in their butchery firm in Masbrough.

He says he boxes and spars Monday, Wednesday and Friday with strength and conditioning work on Tuesday and Thursday.

For the past five weeks he has been living away from his family in an Airbnb as part of the sacrifices needed to find a pathway to success.

First step on that ladder is the June 6 six-rounder against an unconfirmed journeyman, possibly Bulgarian Konstantin Aleksandrov.

"I want to have three fights this year and then move on towards a title next year," he said.

Meanwhile, Millennium-trained Jake Jon Cleary will put his unbeaten record on the line in Scotland on Friday.

Cleary takes on Dumfries's Tyler Jolly, who has also not been beaten in professional boxing.