Lewisham fighting ace Junior Saeed has revealed the parents who once banned him from boxing are now his number one fans.

Saeed looks to extend his unbeaten record on manager Mickey Helliet’s show at the Camden Centre on April 18.

Mum and dad Liz and Tarik will be ringside cheering him on, but when he was a boy they tried to talk their son out of going to the gym.

The Lewisham super-bantamweight recalls: “Mum and dad were boxing fans.

“I remember them sending me to bed when the boxing was on and I could hear them cheering for Nigel Benn and Prince Naseem Hamed.

“When I started watching boxing, I loved the lights, the cameras and the music.

“I knew straight away I wanted to box, but my parents wouldn’t let me.

“They used to say: ‘There will be rough, tough lads in the gym and when you get hit on the nose, you won't like it'. They thought I would get hit once and then start crying!

“I had to beg them to let me go to the gym and finally they let me. I went to the gym when I was eight years old and soon got addicted.”

Saeed went on to be a top amateur before launching his professional career and admits he owes his parents a lot.  

“Mum and dad have done a lot for me,” he explained.

“When I lived at home mum always looked after my diet, and when I went out for runs dad would come along on his bike.

“I miss those days and I use those memories to drive me on.

“I remember telling dad I was going to be a champion and I'm working hard to make that come true.

“I’m going to be a champion and as long as I'm winning, enjoying myself and making a living, I’ve got to be happy.”

Saeed’s shut-out points win over Michael Stupart last month means he has won every round in his four-fight professional career.

He said: “I’m getting the rounds in and learning different ways to win fights, I don’t need to try to knock out journeymen and get into wars.

“I’ve got years left in boxing and will have enough wars when I go up the levels.

“At the moment, I’m controlling fights and getting the rounds in.

“I don’t have to prove to anyone that I can punch, I know I can.

“If I’m 10-0 with no knockouts, people will think I can’t punch.

“They will be in for a surprise when they run onto my right hand or one of my uppercuts.”

For tickets to the show at the Camden Centre on April 18, call 07793 000042.

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