Minaaz Gurung to challenge for Midlands Area super-lightweight title

Minaaz Gurung, a 23-year-old Nepalese-born boxer based in Nuneaton, will challenge Nottingham's Joe Underwood-Hughes for the Midlands Area super-lightweight title on Sept. 13 at Cannock Chase Leisure Centre. A win would make Gurung the first fighter from Nepal to contest for a Midlands area championship.

Gurung enters the fight undefeated in five professional bouts. His opponent, Underwood-Hughes, is a 28-year-old with a 10-4 record and a reputation for aggressive pressure. Gurung trains under Lee Spare, a 2004 ABA light-heavyweight finalist, and has said the bout carries significance for both his local community and supporters in Nepal.

Born in Hong Kong to Nepalese parents and raised in Warwickshire from the age of four, Gurung has cited his family background and his grandfather's service as a Gurkha soldier as factors in his approach to the sport. He told reporters that he has followers in Nepal and expects the fight to increase interest in boxing there, where mixed martial arts currently enjoys greater popularity.

"I've got Nepalese people from back home following me on social media," Gurung said. "Once I have won this title that should grow. I don't think there's ever been a professional boxing champion from Nepal before." He added that he plans to pressure Underwood-Hughes rather than box defensively: "As soon as he feels my punch he will go on the back foot and I will chase him down. I'm not looking to score points and run — I'm going to put on a show. I'm going to make history."

Promoters and local members of Nuneaton's Nepalese community, one of the largest in the country, have shown support for Gurung, who said he expects a travelling contingent on fight night. He has also referenced the success of Nepalese fighters in other disciplines, citing MMA competitor Rabindra Dhant as an example he hopes to match.

Gurung's rise from amateur prospect to unbeaten professional has been rapid. His coach, Spare, noted Gurung's commitment to training and willingness to take on a more experienced opponent for the Midlands Area belt. Underwood-Hughes's style, characterised by forward motion and high work rate, presents a stylistic test for the younger fighter.

Gurung has spoken about his family's decision to settle in the U.K., saying his father moved the family to provide greater opportunities. With the Midlands title fight scheduled for the weekend, Gurung has framed the contest as both a personal milestone and a chance to raise the profile of Nepalese boxing internationally. The result will be watched closely by supporters in Nuneaton and by boxing followers in Nepal.