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European bantamweight champion Ian Napa returns to the ring on Friday, March 20 when the diminutive whirlwind headlines the upcoming Frank Maloney promotion at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England, facing former French titlist Malik Bouziane.
Standing just 5 feet 1 inches tall, Napa is routinely dwarfed by opponents but the Hackney man overcomes this disadvantage by weaving a tapestry of domination behind the use of masterful footwork, razor-sharp reflexes and a hard-nosed body attack that shocks rivals in its ferocity.
Already a star in London’s vast boxing fraternity, Napa has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of a failed European title bid against Italy’s Simone Maludrottu two years ago to reel off five consecutive title fight victories and become one of the top bantamweights in the world.
After winning and then defending the British title on three occasions, the fistic wizard originally from Zimbabwe chose the perfect moment pull off a career best performance, dropping and defeating reigning European champion Carmelo Ballone to capture the Continental crown last October.
The searing upset earned Napa a top 10 ranking with the WBC along with a top 15 seating in the WBA and IBF standings, heralding the move of the 30 year old onto the world stage.
The East Ender hopes to realize his dream of fighting for a world title in 2009 but standing in the way of that lofty ambition is hardened Frenchman Malik Bouziane, 10-1 (1), with whom Napa, 18-6 (1), tangles with in less than two weeks’ time.
Bouziane, a 31 year old from the south Paris suburb of Massy, won the French bantamweight title in October, 2007 and defended it once before graduating to the WBC Mediterranean championship the next year.
But disaster struck for Bouziane when he was narrowly edged out of the domestic title on points last November by spoiler Mohamed Bouleghcha, who currently holds the European Union bantam belt.
An Olympian for Algeria at the Athens Games in 2004 and Gold Medallist in the 2003 All-Africa Games, Bouziane possesses superb boxing skills but has surprised the Parisian fight community by stating in no uncertain terms that he plans on knocking out Napa in devastating fashion on March 20.
For Napa, the gauntlet has been thrown down and the result can be nothing less than a thrilling contest in what could be his final exam before fighting for world honors.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents the Bantamweight Championship of Europe as reigning titlist Ian Napa defends against Malik Bouziane along with full undercard support at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England on Friday, March 20, 2009.
Tickets, priced at £80 for Ringside and £35 General Admission, are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS2 at 10PM.
