THE Keighley boxing scene is currently packed with potential talent hoping to make it to the top level.

Heavyweight Danny 'Big Dawg' Whitaker made the headlines in late 2019 for upsetting the odds in a televised tournament.

2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali pushed his past misdemeanours aside to win his first pro bout last month on another BT Sport show.

This week it was the turn of Ali's cousin Ibrahim Nadim, a 21-year-old slick super bantamweight destined for big things in the sport.

Nadim, who is trained by former world champion and British boxing legend Ricky Hatton, successfully made his second appearance in a professional ring last Saturday, winning on a 39-37 points decision.

The Steeton-born fighter featured on a huge bill at the Manchester Arena, headlined by Scott Quigg.

Despite being one of the earlier fights broadcasted on Matchroom Boxing's Youtube programme 'Before the Bell', Nadim still earned great exposure that would have been hard to come by on the small hall circuit.

'Ibby' enjoyed fighting at the 21,000 capacity arena and has big plans for the rest of 2020.

Nadim said: "It went well even though it was not packed out when we were fighting but it was a good experience fighting in that arena.

"It is different (from the amateurs) in terms of the pace. I had to slow it down a bit more and plant my feet. Whereas, in the amateurs it is 100mph for three rounds.

"I am still young so I will take one fight at a time and see how far I can go.

"The next one should be on a Matchroom card as well and I should be next out April/May time.

"Hopefully I can win some sort of title. A regional or area title."

It was a more difficult contest than his first outing though when he defeated Misael Zeledon 40-36 at York Hall at the end last year.

Nadim had to put behind him a careless opening round where he let the Romanian, Stefan Nicolae, produce a series of wild swings which posed a surprised threat.

The orthodox boxer responded by performing like an older statesmen keeping his 36-year-old opponent at range and using his good boxing skills to manoeuvre Nicolae around the ring.

He said: "In the first round, I just had to get into the rhythm of it and after that it was alright. Second, third, fourth round were good.

"In the first round I did not expect him to swing as much, he was kind of catching me. I was trying to keep him at range and then on the inside I would just roll under because I knew he was going to swing so I could finish my combo.

"I hurt him a few times and could have stopped him but I did not want to walk onto a daft shot."

Certainly keep an eye out for the boxing stars from the town, and especially Nadim who will be aiming to become the brightest light among the packed Keighley field.