Leeds teen boxing star receives backing of Tyson Fury and Amir Khan ahead of European Championships

15-year-old Azaan Hussain will step into the ring with competitors two years older than him when he takes part in the European Boxing Under 17 Championships in Berlin, Germany, next week in the 50kg category.

Having built up a record of 42 wins to 2 losses in the five years that he has been competing, Azaan said that he feels that he is only getting better as he chases his dream of one day turning pro.

He said he was “feeling really good and confident” ahead of the competition next week that will see him compete against budding fighters from across the continent.

Azaan that he felt this competition was his “main one” to date on account of him taking on older competitors.

The Roundhay-born athlete was introduced to the sport by his dad, Nazeem, when he was nine-years-old, and his natural talent soon became apparent.

“He’s won everything that’s come to him”, said Nazeem.

He quickly started making waves as he started training at The Purge Boxing Academy in Batley and has fought in a range of competitions, which has caught the eye of many in the community. It’s through this exposure that Azaan has received good luck messages from the likes of Tyson Fury, Amir Khan, Raymond Ford and Hamza Sheeraz.

It comes after a year that has seen Azaan come out on top at the English Championships and in the Tri-Nations Tournament, all while competing with people a year older than himself.

Having won national and international tournaments over the years, Azaan said that he now feels that his boxing has become “more mature”.

He said: “I have got bigger and stronger and have got better at using my brain rather than going in really fast.”

Asked to describe his boxing style, Azaan said: “It’s rangy and my movement’s really good. It’s really fast and I’ve got speed.”

His father, Nazeem, added that Azaan’s profile has continuously grown among the boxing community and that he received the chance to meet former British boxing great Amir Khan and other professionals during a visit to a training camp in Dubai in the summer.

He said: “Since then we’ve had a lot of people coming to us. It’s all starting to come together.

“They’re already calling him Prince Azaan!”

Azaan’s videos on social media have also amassed hundreds of thousands of views from people wanting to follow his story and support him on his journey.

Azaan said all of the support from his coaches in West Yorkshire who he trains with six days a week and the international stars of the sport has been “really great”, adding: “My head coach Mo Amin in particular has put loads of time in to me.”

As he chases his dream of becoming world champion and inspiring future generations, Azaan’s father Nazeem said that being on the journey has been a whirlwind experience, but he is trying to ensure that the two of them take it one day at a time.

He said: “We don’t think about the future too much but we know it’s happening, especially with the links we are making in the boxing game.

“But I must say I’ve been blown away and I can’t describe how proud he has made me. His humbleness, his skill, his training. It’s beautiful.”

He added: “It’s emotional to think about. I had never travelled the world but now with him I’ve been to Bosnia and Slovenia and all of these places that I’d never even dreamed about when I was growing up.”

Azaand and his father will fly to Berlin on Sunday before the first of potentially five fights on Wednesday. The knock competition will be made up of five matches of three two-minute rounds each.

Nazeem said: “I just want all of Leeds to get behind him and say ‘good luck champ’ and ‘go do your thing’.”