Heavyweight Kash Ali wants to be thrown in with a top 10 opponent this year, but must first take care of Halifax’s Rhys Kaney on February 12 – LIVE on Fightzone.

Ali and Kaney clash in an all-Yorkshire affair at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena on a busy night of boxing that will also see exciting young talents in action like Sheffield’s Keanen Wainwright; North Shields’ Tommy Hodgson, and Zak Miller from Ashton under Lyne.

Rotherham’s Ali has lost just once in 21 fights – a disqualification defeat to David Price – and is part of a thriving British heavyweight scene that features the likes of Nathan Gorman, Fabio Wardley – as well as Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois.

Ali, now 30, is ready to get in the mix but cannot afford to take his eye off local rival, Kaney.  The 27-year-old, who  steps in as a late replacement opponent, has won two from three and will be fully aware that just one big punch could cause a major upset.

Ahead of the contest, Kash continues to fine tune his skills with some top quality sparring, and says that he’s in good hands with promoter Dennis Hobson backing him.

“I’ve been sparring with Hughie Fury ahead of this fight,” explained Kash. “I’ve known Peter [Fury] and Hughie for a long time now, and have been going back and forth sparring for years. I spend a couple of weeks there at a time, and it’s great. Hughie is a world top ten fighter, and I think people underrate him to be honest. Of all the kids I’ve sparred, Hughie’s up there with the best. We help each other and it’s great work. It’s actually like having another family where they are in Cheshire, so it’s all good.

“I’m looking forward to topping the bill on this February 12 show on Fightzone. It’s a really positive start to the year for me, and I want to get the win and look good doing it. In heavyweight boxing though you’re just one punch away from disaster, so I won’t be taking him lightly. He can punch hard and in the heavyweights, it’s a whole different ball game. Everyone can punch and you have to take every opponent seriously.

“I’m really looking forward to 2022 though, and think it’ll be a breakthrough year for me. Dennis [Hobson] is a top promoter and his record speaks for itself. He’s got kids from nowhere onto titles, from Area to World level, and I have no doubts that Dennis will get me the right fights.

“I’m still learning on the job, which is why I go around sparring everyone. There are big fights out there on the British and international scene, and sometime this year I want to fight a top ten guy in the world, or someone at that level. I see myself as a top contender and I’ll do my thing – I’ll let my team put opponents in front of me, and I’ll keep knocking them out!”