‘More to come’ vows Shabaz Mamoud after points win over Liam Davies

Shabaz, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, won a national title as an amateur but his pro career has been stop-start, blighted by injury and inactivity.

Having now signed for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom team, he has been trained in Essex by Davison, who has previously been a cornerman for Anthony Joshua and coached Tyson Fury, another ex-world heavyweight champion.

But Shabaz remains close to his Telford roots at the Wellington Boxing Academy, where he was raised, near to their Donnington Boxing Club rivals, where Davies learned his craft.

“I said to Liam, we’ll meet up, we’ll go for some food and get the two gyms together,” added Shabaz.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about community. The amateur gyms, the grass roots. It’s about getting everyone together. That’s what we need to do.”