TICKET-SELLER Zain Ali wants a pizza the action inside the ring, but outside it his business interests have deep-panned.
The light-middle has just become owner of a fast-food establishment – Frankie’s Pizzeria in Stechford.
“I’m looking to take over the boxing world and takeaway game,” Ali – one of the sport’s larger-than-life characters – told me.
A case of from “eye of the tiger” to “fry of the tiger”.
The new venture has only added to a hectic schedule for Zain as he prepares to stretch his unbeaten pro record to six.
The 26-year-old faces Steven Wallace over six rounds on manager Anthony Manning’s August 16 show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
By final bell it should be mission accomplished: Birkenhead’s Wallace has lost all four of his bouts to date, half of them by stoppage.
Zain is certainly putting the hours in as he seeks financial security for his family in Alum Rock.
There are two sons, aged three and two, at home and another child arrives in September.
He said: “I finish at the takeaway at 2am, then do my running,” he said. “I have a nutritionist and only eat what he tells me, so I’m not helping myself to the menu.”
Zain made a stuttering start in professional boxing, drawing his first two fights and appearing to flag in the later rounds.
But now he is firing on all cylinders and showing improvement with each outing. He’s also staying active – this will be his third outing in seven months.
“I need to keep busy,” he said. “I want a shot at the Midlands title by the end of the year. I’m really confident, I’m back in love with the sport, I love training now.”
Zain entered the pro sport after a solid amateur career. A product of Nechells Green Boxing Club, he had 50 amateur bouts, winning 24.
He has yet to register an inside distance win, but pledged: “The power is always there – I’ve been fighting guys naturally bigger than me. I’ve hurt them but haven’t been able to put them away. Now I’ve also got a strength and conditioning coach.
“The fans know I always come to fight, they know they can expect a good fight. We’ve been working on throwing more combinations in the pocket, but the basics are all polished-up.”
Ever the entrepreneur, as a parting shot Zain offered: “We don’t just do pizzas – burgers, chicken wings…”
Titles may yet to be lifted. Zain, however, is already king of the oven rings.
