Trad TKO teen ready for debut

London-based Turkish teen Shiya Ozgul is set to make his professional debut on the Dave Murphy/Acourtier Events promoted Night of Champions at York Hall next Friday (October 4).

Just 19 years of age, Ozgul has already fought competitively over 80 times as an amateur, during which he represented his country in international competition on numerous occasions.

The highlight of his stellar amateur career was being crowned Junior champion in his homeland.

Now trained at the TRAD TKO Gym in Canning Town, by former Commonwealth lightweight champion Mo Hussein, young Ozgul has proved quite a sensation with his superb performances in sparring with far more experienced pros, even against some of the top prospects.

Ozgul possesses a style more suited to the professional game, so in some ways it comes as no surprise that rather than compete in his adoptive country’s amateur competitions, he has chosen to go the pro route, even at such a tender age.

He said: “I am looking forward to fighting on October 4. I should have debut already, but the fight was cancelled, I was ready then and I‘m more ready now.

“I liked fighting as amateur, but I fight like pro, my style is more pro, I want to fight pro.

“I have best trainer, Mo Hussein, he was a champion, he knows what it takes to win.

“I’ve best training and sparring, have sparred with Erick (former English light-middleweight champion Erick Ochieng) and Festim (Lama).

“I sparred Billy Joe (British & Commonwealth middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders) here, there’s always good sparring here.”

Hussein added: “He’s had some very good sparring to prepare for this fight, he’s also been sparring with his brother (Onder Ozgul), also sparred my son Eddie and loads of different lads here at the TRAD TKO.”

With a cheeky smile emblazoned across his face, Ozgul finished with a flourish, adding: “My fans they want a knockout, I want to give them what they want.”

Shiya Ozgul, against a yet to be named opponent, features on the undercard of the Jennifer Rezke-Angel McKenzie world championship clash.

Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside), are available direct from Shiya Ozgul or Mo Hussein at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town.

Alternatively tickets are available online at www.acourtier.com, www.tkoboxoffice.com or www.mariannemarston.com or by calling 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597.