TEENAGE Clayton boxer Muhammad Amar Farooq gained revenge over his Keighley rival Jamaal Rehman on Saturday night, becoming Yorkshire champion for a third time. And the 17-year-old was feeling the pressure, wanting to avenge his previous defeat to Rehman, as well as make his mum and dad, and his cousin especially, proud. Farooq’s cousin is recovering after being in a coma following a car crash, and the youngster admitted: “It’s been very hard.
“I thought I was dreaming when I was told what had happened to him, and I nearly passed out.
“It affected me that much that I was ill myself, but I trained hard, and I felt I needed to win the fight on Saturday for him.
“He’s woken up now from the coma he was in and he sent me a message wishing me luck before my fight against Jamaal.
“He’s doing well and he’s gone home now, even if doctors are still looking after him.
“He told me he didn’t want to stay in hospital any longer as it was very boring.”
Farooq was determined not to let Rehman defeat him for a second time on Saturday in the 63.5kg bout, saying: “I wouldn’t say it was the hardest fight I’ve ever had, but I had to get one over him.
“I wasn’t too well when he beat me last time we fought, so there was pressure on me to win this time and make my mum and dad proud.”
The victory saw the Bradford boxer crowned Elite Youth Yorkshire champion, his third Yorkshire title adding to the two Hull Box Cups he has won in recent years. Farooq said: “Every year, I want a title win.
“I’ve got those three Yorkshire titles and two Box Cups under my belt now, and it all just looks good on my CV.”
Farooq would not have achieved so much without the backing of his coach at Purge Boxing Academy in Batley, Mohammed Amin Patel. The young Clayton talent said: “Mohammed’s been very helpful to me ever since I came to Purge.
“He’ll put on private boxing sessions for me and always make time for me.
“I feel like he’s worked me the hardest out of anyone there because he knows I’ve got that bit extra to go to the next level.”
But his goals have changed, and he said: “Paris isn’t an option now and the 2028 Olympics (in Los Angeles) are still a long time away.
“I’m only young so my decision might change and I could go for something else.
“I’m not sure I actually have interest in Olympic boxing anymore anyway, as there was talk of it being dropped from the programme and Great Britain have been cutting their funding for it.
“I think it’s a harder challenge in the professional ranks anyway, so I think that’s something I’d like to try instead.”
For now, Farooq is aiming to win a youth title at national level, after his regional success. He will fight in the national pre-quarters on February 5, where a win will put him into a three-day finals event in Birmingham later this year.
