Rotherham boxer Nav Mansouri relishing IBF title shot

Nav Mansouri works the bag in the days before his move to Spain.

An Achilles injury de-railed the Rotherham fighter three years ago when he was on the cusp of a British title.

Some wrote him off, thinking his best days were behind him, but the lad from Kimberworth settled into life in Spain and began stitching his career back together.

Four straight wins later, the last three in Malaga, Marbella and Torremolinos, Mansouri has a huge opportunity to write his name in lights.

He takes on Spanish champion Jorge Fortea for the IBF inter-continental super welterweight title in Marbella knowing that, at 29, a win would lift him into a different league.

“I need everything to be 100 per cent for this and I am,” said Nav, speaking to the Advertiser from Spain this week.

“It's the opportunity of a lifetime and winning it could change a lot of things.

“If I won I would be looking to defend it and to be ranked in the top ten. It would open a lot of doors and put me back in the limelight again.

“A lot of people thought I was finished. The injury put me back but things happen for a reason, I'm a big believer in that.

“I had a few fights, nothing major. I agree the sun has done me good and who would have thought about me getting a big shot like this out of nowhere.”

Nav still works with his long-time trainer Oliver Harrison in Manchester and would be the first to admit its rainy climate is a world away from the sunny Med.

He was back here at the beginning of the year as part of his training camp.

“Getting back to the rain, you do lose it a little bit. It takes a bit to get the hang of it and you need to get that little bit of ring rust out,” he said. “I came back for five weeks to train with Oliver Harrison and I listened to everything he has to say, it was a very good camp.”

Mansouri has an impressive 19-1-2 record, six by KO, and produced a ruthless second-round stoppage of Bogdan Metic in his last fight in Torremolinos.

Fortea (18-1-1) is a handful too but despite fighting in his homeland, he will not necessarily have the crowd behind him at the Palacio de Des Sportes Elena Benitez.

Added Nav: “I have a good fan base out here now. I've met a lot of people and made a lot of new friends. He's the Spanish champion but I'm the home fighter on this bill.

“I'm really looking forward to it. Fortea is a tricky kid but I'm on it. I'm more than ready to take the chance.”