James Beech keeps busy, looking face to face with Shabaz Masoud for the British crown

James Beech Jr will be poised to win the British featherweight championship when he closes out 2021 with his 16th pro contest.

His next ring act took place at the H Suite in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on the afternoon of Sunday 19 December, as part of a performance organized by BCB Promotion.

Beech has been approved by the British Boxing Control Board to face Shabaz Masoud for the vacant national crown.

There are high hopes for Masoud, who has shone in the BT Sport boxing ring under the banner of Frank Warren, and he is unbeaten, with nine wins to date (two TKOs).

But Beech reckons his know-how from being a second-weight champion in the Midlands, along with challenging for British and Commonwealth titles, will beat him.

The 24-year-old from Bloxwich has a 12-round record, hitting the final bell in his bid to win major domestic prizes.

He was beaten by Brad Foster, with British and Commonwealth titles, in 2020, after a competition in which they both bled, due to a cut on his left eye.

Beech also went 10 laps in July, where nampaw Chris Bourke saw him through another point ruling, for WBC International’s dish. Both decisions were unanimous.

Those title tests were at the super bantam level, but he dominated at the regional level in both featherweight and super featherweight.

Beech knocked out Louis Fielding in the ninth round for his first belt, at featherweight, in 2018 and overtook Luke Jones, after 10 rounds, the following year for featherweight super.

His last outing saw him recover from a Bourke loss with a win over laner Dean Jones, a 40-36 knockdown in the first of two continuations.

He said: “I was hoping to get a title war, before Christmas, but it hasn’t materialized yet, so this is the next best thing. It’s all about staying active.

“There is always a risk. If something happens there, but it’s another risk to a title when you haven’t boxed it in a few months. I trust my skills, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.

“I am also building some strength. I’m working on my strength and conditioning and I’m punching a lot harder, so there will probably be more stops.

“I felt so much better in the ring last time. I know there may have been a drop in the opponent’s level, but Dean was a playful kid and wasn’t forced at all.

“I was actually able to do something like that before the game against Bourne, when I hadn’t played in over a year. That shows at night.

“I am delighted to have reached an agreement with Masoud for the English title and I am very pleased with myself for that title. Some people will write to me, which will give me a little extra motivation.

“He hasn’t really done anything yet, while I’ve beaten at title level against top prospects. I think my experience will be too much for him and I am only 24 years old.

“Those are the tests I have to pass, I’m about to hit five years of pro play and I’ve made so much progress, I just want to step up again right now.

“There is no guarantee it will be Masoud. If it weren’t for him, I’d be ready to take another chance if something else came up. Let’s wait and see.”