The current Welsh Lightweight Champion Rashid Omar (5-0) returns to in-ring action as he goes head-to-head with Mexican Christian Lopez Flores (14-37-2) this Saturday at MECA, Regent Circus, Swindon.
This will also be the 34-year-old’s first outing since signing with Neilson Boxing, where the promotional company stated: “We have some big plans for Rashid”, but first he must deal with a tough opponent Saturday, where his journey with Neilson Boxing begins.
Speaking to Rashid ahead of his fight, he said: “Training has been going well as always, as for training camps, I don’t like to use the term as I train all year round, but I do pick it up when I’ve got fights coming up.
“As for training, it’s just become a part of me. I train every day, and it’s become a routine that keeps me going physically fit with staying ready in case any fights come, so that’s where I get my motivation and focus.”
In the Battle of Undefeated, the 34-year-old was set to face Ahmad Hatim (8-0) inside Bethnal Green’s York Hall at the beginning of March, but the fight never happened. When looking at future opponents, Omar insisted: “I’d like to fight Ahmad Hatim as he’s been talking shit, so I’d like to shut him up, and then I would like to fight anyone ranked above me.
“All those have targets on their backs in my eyes.”
Brickfists’ opponent for Saturday has already fought twice this year against Ziyad Almaayouf on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou and Jake Clarke last time out, and saw the final bell on both occasions. In fact, the last time the Mexican was stopped was in May last year when he lost to Danny Quartermaine.
On his opponent, Omar said: “I’m not expecting a lot from my opponent, to be honest, his nickname is the Wasp, my teammate fought him a couple of weeks ago, and all he did was jab and run away, so I’m expecting to be chasing him all night.
Rashid made his professional debut in June 2022, and in his fourth professional fight, he defeated Conor McIntosh for the Welsh lightweight Championship at the Vale Sports Arena.
When asked about his most memorable moment in his professional career so far, he said: “If we’re talking memorable moments, it would have to be the Welsh title fight against Conor McIntosh in Cardiff, winning in front of my hometown.
“But I would rather be talking about what’s to come in my future because the past is the past it’s done.
This will be his first outing of the year, and when asked about what he wants to achieve this year, he stated: “I will see what’s out there, and I’m different to other fighters as I’m trying to get 50/50 fights out here and not to be fighting journeymen for an easy ride.
“I don’t think I’m better than anyone. I just want to be out there testing myself to see how good I am.
“I would like at least five fights this year and definitely want to be pushing for Commonwealth and British titles, which is what I am aiming for.
“That’s the game plan,” he concluded.
Words By Harry Tovey
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