'Shooter' Ishaq fires again: Slough star extends perfect pro record with O2 knockout

Photo credit: Leigh Dawney, team photographer at Queensbury Promotions. Instagram @ leighdawneysportpix

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Slough’s Hassan Ishaq did what was expected of him as he clinically outboxed and stopped the experienced Jake Pollard at the O2 Arena late last month.

Nicknamed ‘Shooter’, Ishaq worked his way through and around Pollard’s defences, stopping him with a couple of heavy blows in the second round to take his professional record to 3-0.

In dropping his opponent to the canvas and then seeing the referee call a halt to the fight, Ishaq condemned Pollard to his 100th professional defeat.

It’s an unwanted record for any fighter - even if they class themselves as a journeyman and work as a farrier, a blacksmith who fits horses with shoes.

It was also Pollard’s 51st consecutive defeat, but Ishaq was professional and clinical in how he went about his business and continues to show great promise as he ticks off these first few professional fights.

This one-sided bout was over before the bell for the end of the second round. Ishaq landed a heavy uppercut that slipped through Pollard’s guard and the boxer from Yorkshire was forced to his knees. The referee Mark Bates checked him over before waving off the fight.

Again, Hassan was well supported by a big crowd from the Slough area, made up of family and friends, but he is starting to gain acclaim and attention from boxing fans living further afield.

The fight took place on the undercard for the Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley bout in London on October 25.

Back in the summer, Ishaq was in more explosive form as he stopped Brandon Gallardo in his professional debut in the third round of a bout in Bournemouth.

This was the fight where the 21-year-old announced himself to the boxing world, and his performances since then should bring bigger, better and tougher opponents his way.

Ishaq’s journey to the pros began at Eddie Richardson’s Lucky Gloves Gym in 2016.

He quickly rose through the amateur ranks to become a national champion, collecting numerous accolades on the way including gold at the Haringey Box Cup and NABGC Elite title.

Known for his Philly shell defence, technical style and in-fight adaptability, Ishaq is starting to garner attention in the pro game.

Follow on X @shooterishaq

Another fighter from the Lucky Gloves School of Boxing is Mikhail Marwan, who has become the club’s third National Champion in recent weeks.

Marwan is British born but of Sri Lankan descent and at the National Championships, he showed he was more than capable of mixing it and dominating some of the best young fighters in the country. He fell short in the same competition last year but was primed not to make the same mistakes this time as he fought his way to the title.