Unbeaten British Light-Heavyweight contender Shakan Pitters has signed a long-term promotional deal with Mick Hennessy and Hennessy Sports.
Pitters (13-0, 4 KOs) has committed his future to Hennessy Sports with a British title showdown on the horizon against Chad Sugden, in a rescheduled clash on August 22nd.
And Pitters believes Mick Hennessy, who guided both Carl Froch and Tyson Fury to their first World titles can repeat the feat and highlighted the importance of having the backing of Channel 5 behind him.
“I’m absolutely delighted to sign with Mick Hennessy and join the Hennessy Sports stable,” Pitters said.
“My career is at the next stage and I believe that Mick is the man to take me where I want to go.
“His track record of spotting and developing talent into champions is second-to-none and I’m sure I can repay his faith in me by delivering Championship titles.
“I’m super excited to be fighting regularly on Channel 5 in front of an audience of million upon millions of viewers and with my fighting style and personality, I have got a fantastic platform to become a household name.”
Pitters and Sugden were set to face off on March 28th, but the fight was postponed with just a week remaining following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former English champion Pitters, who trains out of Eastside Boxing Gym in Birmingham alongside IBF Super-Welterweight champion Sam Eggington, says he is not overlooking the threat of Sugden who secured a draw against Craig Richards in December.
“The next leg of my journey begins on Saturday 22nd August when I challenge for the British title against Sugden,” Pitters added.
“I’m not looking ahead of this fight, everything we’ve worked towards so far is on the line here and it means everything to me.”
The former West Bromwich Albion trainee joins a burgeoning stable including recently signed Cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain, European super-featherweight title contender Alex Dilmaghani and rising Middleweight prospect Michael Hennessy Jr, as well as Hennessy-managed fighters Hughie Fury and Savannah Marshall.
And experienced promoter, Hennessy believes Pitters has all the attributes to become a future star and insists he can oversee his journey to ensure he fulfils his potential.
“We welcome Shakan to the Hennessy Sports team and look forward to working with Jon [Pegg, Pitters’ manager] as we take his career to the next level and beyond.
“I’ve followed Shakan since he started his career and have always been impressed with him and how he handles himself inside and outside of the ring and it’s fantastic to now be guiding his career.
“He’s a physical specimen blessed with great boxing skills, he can box, he can fight, he has a real aura and charisma that will crossover to the mainstream, but importantly his attitude and desire to go to the top and win a World title.
“I really believe that he has something special and with my guidance and his exposure on free-to-air Channel 5, he can become a real star in the sport.
“The 175lb division is really heating up and Shakan can be in the heat of the action, but first and foremost he mustn’t overlook Chad who is a serious challenger for the British title and will be a big hurdle to get over first.”
Pitters faces Sugden on August 22nd for the vacant British crown on a bill featuring the return of Isaac Chamberlain, Love Island star and Super-Welterweight Idris Virgo, Michael Hennessy Jr and a further Area Championship title fight to be confirmed.
