Walsall ace Hamza Uddin 'ready to shine' in first title fight

The Walsall flyweight faces Paul Roberts in Sheffield on Saturday with not one but two belts on the line.

Uddin, who made clear his desire to fight for titles after June’s impressive stoppage win over Leandro Jose Blanc, can claim both the English and WBA international crowns in just his sixth pro contest.

He told the Express & Star: “This is what I asked for and my promoter, Matchroom, has delivered on it.

“Now it is my time to show I am worth it.” 

In addition to the silverware on offer, Uddin has also been elevated to the main TV card at Sheffield Arena in a show topped by hometown hero Dave Allen’s heavyweight clash with Arslanbek Makhmudov.

The 22-year-old eight-time amateur champion, who boasts a perfect record of five wins from five in the pro ranks, was less than impressed about his win over Blanc taking place just minutes after the doors of Birmingham’s BP Pulse Arena had opened back in June, with just a few hundred spectators in their seats.

Saturday’s atmosphere should be very different, as he explained: “There will be almost 10,000 in the arena for the main event and because I’ve got a good slot, there will be plenty in when I am fighting. 

“It is my time to shine and I am going to shine.

“I fought a really top kid in my last fight. I made the statement I needed to and they (Matchroom) took notice. Now I have my reward, which is as it should be.

“It is an entertainment game and I still feel I was more entertaining than anyone else. 

“But getting that stoppage in a fight a lot of people thought would be tough for me - making it look so easy - has definitely helped my cause. 

“I just want to keep improving and going from strength to strength. This performance will be even better than the last one.”

Watford-born Roberts, a former Southern Area champion, failed in a previous bid for the English title in 2023 when he was outpointed by Connor Kelsall in Barnsley.

The 29-year-old has lost six of his 15 pro bouts but never been stopped inside the distance, something Uddin plans to change.

“He is a good fighter, who has been in a few title fights,” he said of his opponent. 

“But it is all about levels. I am going to dance around him, show how good I am and then knock him out. 

“That is what I always do, I break them down. It doesn’t matter how experienced he is, or what he has done. It is the way I box and you can’t prepare for me. He is in trouble.”

Uddin, also stepping up to 10 rounds for the first time, believes the longer distance will also play to his strengths.

“The longer I am in the ring with him, the more damage he is going to take,” he said. “If he walks on to my shots, he could go early. I am ready either way.”