UMAR SADIQ wants to face English super-middleweight champion Darryll Williams in his fourth professional fight
Both men are in action on Saturday’s big bill at London’s o2 Arena, but will only be sharing the dressing room corridor on this occasion.
Sadiq, 30, who gave up a lucrative accountancy career to box professionally will be having his third professional fight, but is in a rush to face his fellow Londoner.
He said: “Some people think it is bold wanting to fight Darryll Williams so soon in my career, but I believe in my ability.
“Darryll is good for what he is, but what you see is what you get. He looks robust, aggressive and strong. That is exactly what he comes with.
“Unfortunately with my pedigree and skill he is going to need a lot more than that to deal with me. “I look at the guys fighting at English level and I am confident that I can compete with them.
“I get a lot of confidence from all the very good men I boxed in the amateurs and who I spar with now. I have sparred Lawrence Okolie, James DeGale and Joshua Buatsi.”
Williams is unbeaten in 16 fights and although Sadiq is a novice pro he added: “Hopefully Darryl wins his fight at the o2 as well and hopefully at some point this year, the fight can be made.
“It might only be my third professional fight coming up but anytime after that I will go for the fight against Darryll.”
Sadiq has won both professional fights on points and has prepared for Saturday’s contest at the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles at the Wild Card.
He sparred with the likes of Lateef Kayode and unbeaten cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti. “I have developed majorly in the United States and people have got to turn up or tune in on BT Sport to see how much good it did me,” said Sadiq.
“I went to Los Angeles to the Wild Card gym and in Las Vegas I used the Mayweather gym. “I put my face around, but didn’t mention I had been an accountant. A lot of the coaches out there said I was going to make it to the top which was nice to hear.”
Sadiq boxes on a bill topped by Roberto Garcia’s WBC silver middleweight title defence against St Helens Martin Murray.