Ukashir Farooq


Ukashir Farooq is a Pakistani-born British professional boxer. He held the British bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019 and challenged once for the Commonwealth bantamweight title in 2019.

Early life

Ukashir Farooq, known by friends and family as "Kash", was born on 3 January 1996 in Gujranwala, Lahore, Pakistan. One of three brothers, he and his family immigrated to England and applied for asylum in 2002, initially living in London before being relocated to Glasgow, Scotland. He first entered a boxing gym in 2010 after being invited by a friend. In an interview with The Herald, Farooq recalled: "I wasn’t interested in boxing at the start" and "...the trainer saw me hitting a few bags and asked me to come back. I came back and did some sparring and it just continued from there. Now I love boxing."

Professional career

Farooq made his professional debut on 25 October 2015, winning a four round points decision over Craig Derbyshire at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.
After winning his first seven fights, he challenged Scott Allan for the British Scottish Area bantamweight title on 23 November 2017 at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Farooq won via eighth-round technical knockout.
On 27 September 2018, he faced Jamie Wilson at the St. Andrew’s Sporting Club in Glasgow. Farooq scored a TKO victory 73 seconds into the first round to capture the vacant British bantamweight title, becoming the first Scottish boxer in 21 years to do so.
The first defence of his British title came on 30 November 2018, against Iain Butcher at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow. Farooq retained his title with a unanimous decision over twelve rounds.
He defended his title for the second time on 25 April 2019, against undefeated Kyle Williams at the Radisson Blu Hotel, winning via fifth-round TKO.
On 17 August 2019, Farooq beat Duane Winters by first-round knockout at the Radisson Blu Hotel to retained his British bantamweight title.
On 16 November 2019, he challenged Commonwealth bantamweight champion Lee McGregor at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow. Farooq lost a highly disputed and controversial split decision in which the majority felt Farooq should have been the clear victor.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
14Loss13–1 Lee McGregorSD1216 Nov 2019Lost British bantamweight title;
For Commonwealth bantamweight title
13Win13–0 Duane Winters1, 17 Aug 2019Retained British bantamweight title
12Win12–0 Kyle WilliamsTKO5 25 Apr 2019Retained British bantamweight title
11Win11–0 Iain Butcher1230 Nov 2018Retained British bantamweight title
10Win10–0 Jamie WilsonTKO1, 1:1227 Sep 2018Won vacant British bantamweight title
9Win9–0 Jose HernandezTKO2 16 Jun 2018Leisure Centre, Paisley, Scotland.png" />
8Win8–0 Scott AllanTKO8, 2:3123 Nov 2017Won Scottish Area bantamweight title
7Win7–0 Georgi Andonov1 21 Sep 2017
6Win6–0 Michael BarnorPTS63 Jun 2017
5Win5–0 Dimitrijs GutmansPTS620 Apr 2017
4Win4–0 Scott AllanPTS1019 Jan 2017
3Win3–0 Brett FidoePTS626 May 2016
2Win2–0 Anwar AlfadliPTS421 Jan 2016
1Win1–0 Craig Derbyshire425 Oct 2015