Englishman Shakan Pitters goes in search of the vacant British Light-Heavyweight title when he squares off against Chad Sugden in London on March 28.
The 30-year-old Birmingham native was originally meant to fight Craig Richards in four weeks’ time, however the Londoner was forced to pull out due to illness.
Despite the late change, Pitters (13-0-0, 4 KO’s) is not unnerved with the late switch of opponent and will not let that detract his focus to win the British title.
“There’s no hinge to my training. I’m very good at adjusting to whoever I’m in the ring with. Chad is an incredible opponent but I’m prepared and I’m looking forward to it,” he told Sport360 at Real Boxing Only Gym in Dubai.
“I’ve got to take it one step at a time. I can’t overlook anything. I will be successful but I can’t look ahead of that. I have to keep winning my fights. I have to get the British belt first and take it from there. I have to get the win of course, and I have to do it in good fashion as well.”
Ranked sixth in the light-heavyweight division, Pitters only turned professional three years ago and continues to sparkle on the big stage. Since his first pro fight in March 2017, he has clocked up 13 consecutive wins, including the Ultimate Boxxer crown in 2018 by way of unanimous decision.
The decision to turn pro was driven by the arrival of his daughter four years ago. He was a promising amateur at the time, with buckets of class, however the birth of Leilani made him finally back his gifted talents and take that next step.
“I have a high drive because of my daughter. I just want to do the best I can for her. She’s been a part of what I’ve done in boxing and life itself. I just want to set her up and help her like a father should I’m looking after her,” he said.
Pitters comes from a big boxing family with his father Colin a pro boxer in the 90s and trainer to the likes of Matthew Macklin, Franklin Gavin and others. His brothers Anwar and Aundra also fought on the amateur circuit.
In Shakan’s earlier years, he plied his trade with West Brom Academy for six seasons before following in family footsteps and chasing a career in the ring.
While football was his primary passion growing up, the Solihull man would go to the Small Heath Gym to watch his dad hit the bags, surrounded by the likes of Macklin and Gavin.
Some mornings, his dad would wake up the family at 4am and they would embark on five-mile runs together around the town. Always in those early days Colin was feeding a passion for his kids.
“It was a big inspiration. I have to thank him for why I love boxing now because he brought me to the gym. He’s a big help. I grew up watching him on the television, I have good memories watching him and I want to mimic what he did,” he said.
“Football always my dream. It was my big goal. It was my inspiration. However, it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I went back to what I was good at which was the boxing. I carried on with that and it is going well.”
