Cricketer Waqas is set to bowl ‘em over

Waqas Ali outpoints Paul Cummings in his debut. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB

WAQAS Ali’s family had high hopes of the lad becoming a professional cricketer. Instead, he’s chosen to bowl them over as a fighter.

And the welter, a product of Wolverhampton’s Junction gym and signed to BCB Promotions, has the amateur background to make waves in the paid ranks.

In a 32 bout career, he won a handful of Midlands titles, reached an ABA final and an elite ABA semi-final. What’s more, the 27-year-old, from the city’s Penn Fields district, has a following – he sold over 100 tickets for his September debut, a points win over experienced journeyman Paul Cummings.

Waqas, who works for the RAC, has no doubt he’s motoring to the top.

Trained by highly respected Joby Clayton and Kevin Blower, he said: “We are a sporting family. My dad played cricket and as a boy all I played was cricket and football. My cousin got me into boxing at 15 and from that first day I loved it.”

Interestingly, when Waqas was set to make his pro debut, his old cricket club Wightwick and Finchfield posted a good luck message.

He plunged into the pros after taking a break from the sport, explaining: “I had 18 months off. I didn’t get a GB call-up, I lost my passion for it a bit and eventually thought, I’ll give the pros a go.

“One hundred per cent I believe the pros will suit me better. I feel doing longer rounds will suit me better and I can pick my shots, pick my power shots – I like to take my time a bit.

“I don’t want to put a ceiling on what I can achieve, I want to see how far I can take it, but believe I can push to British level and above.”

Waqas, who hopes to squeeze in another bout before Christmas, stressed he has the power needed to succeed. This convert from cricket aims to hit the opposition for six.