By Chris Glover

Rising Ingle Gym star Atif ‘Unique’ Shafiq is enjoying training camp in Fuerteventura as he prepares for his toughest test to date against Lee Appleyard.

Shafiq and Appleyard will clash on March 3 at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena on a show that will see the return of Kell Brook. The show, that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, will see Shafiq and Appleyard square off in a title contest, in a fight that could arguably steal the show.

The Sheffield based slickster Shafiq gave his thoughts about his opponent Appleyard and the fight itself. He said, “Lee is a nice guy, I have loads of respect for Lee, but on March 3 he is getting beaten up.

“I’ve been working hard for a long time to get title opportunities like this. When I win on March 3 I will hopefully get a world ranking and be able to push on to bigger and better thing this year.”

Shafiq is currently based out in Fuerteventura, with trainer Dominic Ingle guiding him through camp alongside WBO World Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders, Kell Brook, rising stars Kid Galahad, Jason Quigley and Leigh Wood from the Ingle Camp. Former WBO World Lightweight Champion and WBO World Light Welterweight title challenger Terry Flanagan is also in Fuerteventura with his team, working alongside the Ingle Camp as they prepare for their own individual fights. ‘Unique’ opened up about how life is in camp in Fuerteventura.

Shafiq added, “Life is great out here in camp. We’re all learning and working hard and all looking good ahead of our scheduled fights.

“Being able to train alongside the likes of Billy Joe Saunders, Kell Brook and Terry Flanagan who have all been World Champions is brilliant. I learn so much from them and it is just extra motivation for the rest of us to push ourselves as far as we can go.

“This will reflect on the night of March 3 when I pick up my first professional title.”

Tickets are available for the March 3 Matchroom Sport’s bill in Sheffield that includes Atif Shafiq, Kid Galahad and Kell Brook amongst others are available by contacting Shafiq through social media.