Hennessy Boxing: Danger Man El Maachi Ready For Britain’s Best

On paper Yassine El Maachi’s record is unlikely to set the world on fire but the London based Moroccan believes he’s the best kept secret in British boxing and he might just be right.

El Maachi has won ten and lost four in a stop start professional career that started in 2001 but having put together an impressive six fight winning streak he says he’s ready for any welterweight or light welterweight in Britain.

His next outing comes at the Brentwood Centre on November 28th on the undercard of the Darren Barker – Wayne Elcock British Middleweight title. The Hennessy Sports event is live on ITV4 and El Maachi is hopeful that he can make himself known to a wider audience.

“In boxing it’s all about getting the right breaks and I believe that this is a big chance for me,” said the self styled “Showman”. “I will fight anyone out there right now; all I need is the chance to prove I belong with the best.”

The power punching southpaw has no problem admitting that he has styled himself on his idol, former World Champ Naseem Hamed. “I used to love watching Naseem’s fights. He was a great entertainer as well as a great fighter and I always try to entertain people as well.”

El Maachi, a three time Moroccan amateur champ turned professional in Holland in 2001 after a 31 fight unbeaten amateur career and won three of his first four fights. However the bare statistic of his defeat at the hands future European Champion Jackson Osei Bonsu in Belgium doesn’t tell the whole story.

“I was asked to fight Bonsu at two days notice in just my third fight. I think his people assumed I was a journeyman but I put him down twice and had him out on his feet. He did well to come back and win the fight but with more preparation I know it would have been a different result.”

El Maachi had a frustrating four years on the sidelines from 2003 to 2007 while he waited for a fight but a move to the U.K. finally reignited his career. “I wanted to fight but nobody would fight me. I kept training but I think people thought I was too dangerous as an opponent but finally in 2007 I started to get regular fights again in Britain.

“At first it was just like before because I was only getting a couple of days notice for the fights but I felt I was robbed against Thomas McDonagh and Denton Vassell and I knew from sparring the top guys in the U.K. that I was good enough to take on the best.”

Now with six straight wins behind him El Maachi feels he’s ready to take on the best in Britain. “I don’t want to bad mouth anyone but I’ve sparred with the British Champion Anthony Small and he couldn’t touch me. I’d love to fight any of the Champions out there right now, all I need is the opportunity and I believe I can beat any of them.

El Maachi’s bout at the Brentwood Centre on November 28th is part of the undercard to Darren Barker’s British Middleweight title showdown with Wayne Elcock.

The action packed undercard also features Colchester’s Lee Purdy defending his Southern Area Welterweight title against Wokingham’s Mark Douglas while unbeaten prospects Bradley Evans, Bobby Ward, Phill Fury and Steve Barnes are also in action.

Tickets for the bout priced £30 and £80 are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.