INDER BASSI hopes to leave behind a lasting memory in the boxing ring – having already done so outside of it.
Bassi is 14-2 in his career – turning professional in 2019 – off the back of a title-winning amateur career of 50 wins out of 75.
But one of the biggest fights Bassi had during his time in the unpaid ranks was the old rule that amateur boxers had to shave off all facial hair.
The welterweight from Basildon is a proud Sikh – a religion which prohibits the cutting or shaving hair.
Bassi helped campaign to change the the amateur boxing rule – which was in place to stop cuts due to the coarse texture of facial hair.
And in 2019, the ban was lifted by England Boxing thanks to the help of Bassi, who features in SunSport's latest Contender episode on YouTube.
The trailblazer told us: “The overturning of the beard ban – people associate that with my name.
“It's weird because you weren't allowed a beard in the amateur boxing and like I said, in the professional game, you're allowed.
“In Muay Thai, kickboxing, in any other contact sport you were allowed just weren't allowed in the amateur boxing.
“That held a lot of Sikh boxers back. The belts are something every fighter wants and I want them myself, I'm hungry for belts.
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“But it's more so for people to remember me as a good man who done something for my community.
“The more I fight, the more I win, the more belts I win I'm going to continue smashing them glass ceilings in. They are my belts as well.
“They are my belts that are metaphorical, I can't see them, I can't show nobody them but that's what people are going to remember me for.”
Bassi is training out of the Peacock Gym in East London – which has welcomed some of boxing's greatest ever through its doors.
He said: “It's one of the most notorious gyms in the country. Floyd Mayweather's been here, loads of legends. Prince Naseem's trained here.
“To belong to a gym where them kind of fighters have trained, it is quite special.”
In our episode, Bassi spars hard rounds against an international German boxer in preparation for his next fight.
The 28-year-old has won his last two fights having lost an English title bout against Sean Noakes in July.
His promoter Jon Trethewey said: “I am a bit biased, Sean won on the night and he did deserve to win, can't deny that.
“But I don't think we saw the best of Inder that night.”
Now Bassi has bounced back, he has landed himself a huge fight at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.
The event is headed up by American legend Roy Jones Jrand former European champion Spencer Oliver.
Bassi will take on Lucas Ballingall from Portsmouth, who is 18-2, in the Battle of The Bridge event which is airing on Fight Zone.
And Bassi said with a smile: “When I tell people I'm boxing at Stamford Bridge, some say, ‘Oh man, you could have picked a better stadium!'
“But it's exciting. Everyone's excited.”
It is the first-ever boxing event staged at Chelsea's West London home – and Bassi was blown away when he visited the SW6.
He said: “Expect the unexpected and put in the work and opportunities will come. It's genuinely a mad sport.
“But to be boxing here, when I got the call up to say, you know what you're on the show, it was a big thing for myself.
“I was a bit shocked. It's everyone's dream to be boxing on the big shows in front of the bright lights.”
