Promoter and manager Dennis Hobson has warned heavyweight Kash Ali not to take his opponent lightly when he defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) European Title this Saturday (September 18) at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena.

The Rotherham fighter faces Germany’s Roman Gorst in the first defence of his IBF crown, with all the action – including local man Tommy Frank bidding to become Sheffield’s first ever British Flyweight king against Birmingham’s Matt Windle – live on new boxing channel, Fightzone.

Since losing via disqualification and serving a ban for biting David Price in 2019, Ali has teamed up with trainer and mentor, Richard Towers. A former heavyweight contender himself, Towers has started to get the best out of the 29-year-old, 19-1 (10), who is now on a four fight winning streak since that solitary loss to Liverpudlian Price.

An unknown quantity, Gorst shouldn’t be overlooked as an easy night for Kash. The German turned pro in 2018 and in short time has amassed seven wins, six KOs, with a solitary points defeat in October last year when contesting his home country’s heavyweight crown. The 32-year-old is now back to winning ways after picking up a stoppage win in March and will eye Ali as the perfect opportunity to gate-crash the European heavyweight rankings.

“The level that Kash is moving into, they’re all banana skins,” said Hobson. “They’re heavyweights and if you get hit on the chin then you’re going to go over! If his mind isn’t right and he switches off, he could be in trouble.

“This is a huge opportunity for the German to win a version of the European Title, to get a world ranking, and get in line for a big payday against a bigger name. It’s a chance for Gorst to make a name for himself and put himself in the shop window.

“Under Richard Towers’ guidance, Kash seems to have moved to another level and we’ve just seen glimpses of what he’s capable of. There are going to be big opportunities for Kash on the heavyweight scene. We believe we’ve got a major player in him, but we’ve had a few upsets on our shows recently with home fighters being beaten, which just shows we’re putting them in competitive fights.

“Kash can’t afford to slip up here in what could well be a tricky fight.”