British bantamweight champion Kash Farooq is eyeing a place in the history books after it was confirmed his all-important third defence of the Lonsdale belt will take place next month at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

The Knightswood fighter will have the chance to win the coveted Lord Lonsdale challenge belt outright, one of boxing’s oldest and most prestigious sporting trophies, when he meets English brawler Duane Winters on Saturday, August 17.

Farooq, who won the belt last September with a devastating 60-second knockout win over Jamie Wilson, has successfully defended his British crown twice since, with a one-sided points win against Iain Butcher in November before a stunning five-round demolition of Kyle Williams earlier this year.

A third successful defence next month would see the 23-year-old become Scotland’s 17th outright winner since the belt’s inception in 1909. 

READ MORE: Kash Farooq retains bantamweight crown with fifth round stoppage

And with esteemed company of outright winners including the likes of Jim Watt, Ken Buchanan and Alex Arthur, Farooq admits he is looking forward to the challenge.

“I look forward to every fight, but I’m really up for this one,” Farooq told Post Sport. “I’ve not been looking forward to a fight as much as this for a while. It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere on the Saturday night and it’ll be a massive opportunity for me to win the Lonsdale belt outright.

“There have been some incredible Scottish fighters on the list of outright winners so I’m desperate to get my name up there alongside them and make some history. No one can ever take that kind of achievement away from you so I know how important this is and I’ve been working hard to make sure everything goes well.

“I never expected to do this when I turned professional. I’m still so young as well so it makes it even more amazing. Everything really has been a blessing and I’m just hopeful that I can continue winning and continue this success. I’m putting the work in to do that.”

A naturally gifted athlete, Farooq is always in superb shape when he gets to the ring. However, the prospect of getting his name in the history books has pushed him even further in his most recent training camp with the youngster admitting he has taken no time off since his last defence back in April.

Clydebank Post: Farooq celebrating after clinching the prestigious belt last SeptemberFarooq celebrating after clinching the prestigious belt last September

An eye-catching knockout win over Williams on April 25 was his last outing and the bantamweight champ has stepped it up since.

“I knew I would be back in the ring about mid-August so I just kept it going to be honest,” he said. “I’ve not taken any time off since the Williams fight and I was actually back in sparring less than a week after that. That’s how much I want this. 

“I’m extra motivated against Winters and I’m hungrier than ever for this.”

Speaking of Winters, the 31-year-old Bristol man is no slouch himself. Boasting a record of 11 wins from 12 professional fights, ‘Gasman’ is the current BBBofC Southern Area super-bantamweight champion.

And with his last bout ending in a 10th round stoppage win back in February, he won’t be coming to Glasgow to take it easy.

Farooq is more than prepared for anything Winters can bring, however, and is supremely confident, and rightly so, that he will be leaving the Radisson Blu with nothing less than another win for his own impressive record.

He said: “I have seen a bit of Duane. He’s the Southern Area champion down there so he’s got something about him. He’s a natural super-bantamweight and heavier than me but he’s made the lower weight before so I know he’ll be coming ready. 

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“What I will say is I’ve seen some fights where he’s struggled with some of the opponents. He’ll be coming up here well up for it but it’s going to be difficult for him. I’m different to anyone he’s fought before, so even though I’m definitely not underestimating him, I’m really confident to make my third defence.”

With history and the stunning Lonsdale belt on the line, there is no lack of motivation from camp Farooq. And with the bout being screened live to a national audience via BBC Scotland, the champ admits, if anything, that he is even more motivated to put on a show for prime time viewers.

He added: “My fight is on BBC Scotland again which is brilliant news. It really is a big motivator for me. Boxing in front of so many in the crowd and then however many on national TV only makes me want to work harder to be able to go out there on the night and really impress.

“A lot of fighters from Scotland at this stage in their career don’t get the television exposure so I’m really grateful and very thankful to my manager Iain Wilson to be able to showcase my skills to a national audience this early in my career.

“I’ve put the work in, I’m ready to go and impress now.”

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