Boxing
Sheffield’s Boxing Dream: Izzy Asif Aims to Unite Rival Fans with Dalton Smith & Shakiel Thompson Fight Night
Sheffield promoter Izzy Asif envisions a fight night featuring hometown boxers Dalton Smith and Shakiel Thompson, aiming to unite rival fans of Sheffield Wednesday and United. This anticipated boxing event could bring a historic night of boxing to the Steel City.
Image Credits: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Sheffield will soon be staging one of the biggest nights in its storied boxing history if one of the UK’s up-and-coming promoters gets his way.
A Tale of Two Fighters and Two Football Clubs
With the careers of Dalton Smith and Shakiel Thompson both progressing at a rapid pace, Izzy Asif told SportsBoom he wants to help organise a card showcasing the Steel City’s two finest fighters within the next twelve to 18 months.
Smith, a lifelong Sheffield Wednesday supporter, is scheduled to challenge for the European super-lightweight title later this year after a bout with Jon Fernandez, his most likely opponent, was postponed due to injury last month.
Thompson, who like Smith has yet to taste defeat as a professional, follows The Owls’ arch-rivals Sheffield United.
Noticing how footballing loyalties helped create an electric atmosphere when Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood clashed at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena last year, Asif aims to go one better by placing the two hometown heroes on the same bill.
The Rise of Dalton Smith and Shakiel Thompson
“What an occasion that would be - Shak and Dalton on a show together,” he said.
“It would be huge, absolutely huge, and something completely special.”
“United and Wednesday coming together for a night and getting behind their own.”
“Sheffield is an amazing place for boxing - I don’t think there’s anywhere better in the country - and the fans of both our clubs are the most passionate there are.”
“Can you imagine what it would be like, in the arena, with United and Wednesday in there? Phenomenal, that’s what it would be like so let’s make it happen.”
“I love Dalton,” Asif continued. “He’s going great guns and is definitely going straight to the top of the tree.”
Shak has so much talent as well. If we could get them both on together, bring United and Wednesday together, what an incredible night that would be.
Izzy Asif
A Call for Collaboration Between Promoters
Although Smith and Thompson work with different stables - the latter, who operates at middleweight, competes under Asif’s GBM banner - the 41-year-old, whose company operates out of South Yorkshire, hopes its broadcasting arrangement with DAZN could pave the way for his dream to be realised.
Smith also sees his bouts televised on the global streaming services, thanks to its agreement with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.
Hearn was a guest at ringside when Thompson extended his record to 13-0 with a devastating stoppage of River Wilson-Bent at the Canon Medical Arena. Twenty-four hours later, Hearn staged a world title bout between Terri Harper and Rhiannon Dixon inside the same Sheffield venue.
Matchroom, who have outlined plans to pit Smith (16-0) against Spain’s Jon Fernandez for the vacant EBU strap before Christmas, were responsible for devising the innovative seating arrangement which guaranteed Wood’s clash with Warrington unfolded against one of the noisiest backdrops in decades.
Hearn placed Wood’s fans, who are drawn from the terraces of Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, on one side of the arena.
Facing them on the other were thousands from Elland Road, where Warrington enjoys cult hero status.
With the likes of Prince Naseem Hamed, Kell Brook, Herol ‘Bomber’ Graham, Clinton Woods, Ryan Rhodes and Paul ‘Silky’ Jones all hailing from Sheffield, Asif is adamant that combining pugilism and soccer would be a profitable mix for Smith and Thompson.
“It’s great to see promoters working together now,” said Asif, referring to the thaw in relations between Hearn and Frank Warren of Queensberry.
“We (GBM and Matchroom) are both on DAZN so let’s get it on, let’s get it done.”
“A show like that would sell-out in no time and be brilliant for everyone involved in it, including the fighters and the fans.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.