Top super-bantamweight prospect Raza Hamza aims to fulfil a promise to his late mother and become a champion.

In a moving interview with Boxing Monthly online, the young Birmingham talent tells how his mother encouraged him to start boxing after watching Amir Khan.

But sadly she didn’t get to see her son’s first fight after passing away on the morning of his amateur debut following a seven-year battle with cancer.

Despite the heartbreak of losing his mother, the 12-year-old Hamza won that night and went on to win another 53 out of 64 fights and also collecting three Junior ABA titles.

Hamza told Boxing Monthly, “My mother died in the morning then I fought in the evening. It was really, really hard.  When I spoke to her in the morning before I left for school she told me; ‘Make sure you win today'. To make sure I went on to do what she wanted me to do. While I was in school, that’s when she died. It was a very hard decision for me to make but I did it for her, it was just my mum’s dream for me to box and to do well in my life through boxing.”

Hamza left the amateur code having become disillusioned with the sport and turned over to the professional side, joining top Midlands trainer John Costello - father of top unbeaten talent Joe - and manager Lee Beard.

The 22-year-old made an explosive pro debut in February at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, putting on a devastating performance to halt Jack Heath in 63 seconds and dropping him twice.

Exciting talent Hamza will have his next date announced shortly as he sets his sets on becoming a world champion in honour of his mother.

“All that matters to me is becoming a champion now or giving it my best go at becoming a champion. I don’t care about anything else. All I think about is becoming a champion," said Hamza.

“Believe me, you will see me walk people down and destroy them. In this game, it’s the hurt business. If I don’t finish you off, you will finish me off. I’m in the ring to destroy you. You’ve come to take away something my mum wanted and I’m not letting you take it. I will destroy you.”

UPTON BROTHERS IMPRESS AT YORK HALL

 

RICKY HATTON-TRAINED siblings Anthony and Sonny Upton impressed once again as they defeated overseas opponents at the historic York Hall in  Bethnal Green, London on Saturday night (May 16).

 

Sonny smartly outboxed Latvia's Dmitrijs Ovsjannikovs over six rounds despite sustaining a hand injury, while Anthony flattened Istvan Kiss of Hungry with an hellacious body shot in the third round.

 

Victory extends Sonny's record to 7-2 (4 KOs), while Antony remains unbeaten at 9-0 (4 KOs).

 

"It was a learning fight more than anything. I learnt quite a lot. He was a tough fella, I'd watched him on YouTube and I kind of had a feeling it would go the distance. He was a typical journeyman who takes a punch," Sonny said.

 

"I hurt my right hand two weeks ago and it went again last night when I was doing the pads. Ricky said if I had to throw it, to throw it, but otherwise save it. I hit him on the top of the head a few times and it hurt, but it was a good performance.

 

"I like the longer distance fights because I think you learn more in rounds four to six than you do in the first three.

 

"I think I'm ready for eight rounds now. Ricky is looking for a title fight towards the end of the year and I'm looking forward to that."

 

Anthony said: "I've been practicing this body shot with Ricky in the past week and I just let it go in the third round.

 

"The first round I felt him out, the second round I rocked him a few times and then in the third I rocked him a few more and then boom! I hit him in the solar plexus and that was it, he wasn't getting back up.

 

"He's fought a lot of welterweight and light-middleweights and done ok, but I hit harder than my weight.

 

"I don't really want to compare myself to anyone else. I'm just concentrating on what I need to do and I'm in no rush. Ricky has asked me what ranking I am because I think he's keen for a title later in the year, but I'm happy with the way things are going and I'll be ready for anyone when the chance comes up."

HAMMOND GIVEN COMMONWEALTH BOOST

 

CAMERON HAMMOND'S WBA Oceania title clash with Jess Ravudi will double up as an eliminator the Commonwealth welterweight crown.

 

The 25-year-old from Moree, New South Wales is looking to return with an explosive performance following six months on the side lines.

 

And the incentive of potentially earning a showdown with newly-crown Commonwealth king Sam Eggington should spur him on further against an opponent capable of causing an upset.

 

Australia has not had a Commonwealth titlist at 147lbs since Julian Holland stopped Shannon Taylor back in 2001 and Hammond is keen to turn the tide.

 

"I was very proud when I won the WBA Oceania title last year, but to get the chance to box for the Commonwealth would be great," Hammond, 25, said.

 

"Obviously, this is an eliminator and there's no guarantee that my next fight would be for that title itself, but knowing that beating Ravudi puts me on course for it is something that fills me with excitement.

 

"It won't be easy because Ravudi is a good fighter. He will see me as a big scalp and he will give his all. I just think I'll have too much for him.

 

"I've had some time out due to injury but I'm fit and strong and I can't wait to get back in the ring and show the fans what I can do.

 

"My last two fights have been ten rounders and they've put me in good stead for this test. Obviously I'd like a knockout, but I won't push it. If it comes, it comes."

 

Hammond v Ravudi is the chief supporting contest on Xcite Fight Promotions and Hatton Promotions' show at The Sands Tavern, Maroochydore, Queensland on May 23. The main event sees two-time Olympian Brad Hore face Afrizal Tamboresi for the vacant WBF Asia Pacific super-flyweight title, while Kerry Hope will make his Australian debut against Jamed Jalarante over eight rounds.