WALTER Gahadza has a host of top promoters queuing to sign him if he can see off fellow unbeaten star Ryan Scope in their European welterweight title headline showdown in Sunderland on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old former Befairs High School pupil will go head to head with local favourite Scope in the octagon in front of a packed crowd at the Rainton Meadows Arena at Made 4 The Cage 11.
Gahadza boasts a 12-0-0 record, and Scope is 7-0-0, and both are touted as potential future UFC stars. Gahadza’s trainer Dan Burzotta says victory would take his fighter into the highest echelon of the sport.
Burzotta said: “I’ve had endless calls from different promoters about Walter, but I’ve told them we are not signing any deal until after this fight.
“I’ve also spoken to people from the UFC about Walter because they are really interested in him and that’s because he’s a promoter’s dream because he’s a poster boy and he fights the part.
“I’ve been training fighter for 25 years and I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as Walter.”
Gahadza will be accompanied by about 40 local fight fans, including his stable-mates for Southend’s TSG gym, when he travels to the North East to fight in front of a 1,500-strong crowd on Saturday night.
On Wednesday he tipped the scales at 79kgs and Burzotta said he was comfortably on target to make the 77.5kgs at tomorrow’s weigh in following weeks of intensive cardio and a diet of boiled fish and vegetables.
Scope has studied martial arts since the age of five and has added boxing, kick boxing, judo and wrestling skills over the years.
His latest win came over Luke Newman at BAMMA 12 with a first round submission, claimed with a triangle choke.
He’s trained with UFC fighters Phil De Fries and Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson, and is considered one of the UK’s top prospects.
Burzotta said: “We respect Ryan Scope because he came through a highly respected gym in Scotland called Dinky Ninjas.
“But Walter’s fight are always about Walter, and he’ll be looking to dominate again here.
“Scope is a banger so Walter has been training with pro boxers and Paul Daley, who is world ranked number seven.
“Walter will be happy to stand there and trade or wrestle, we’ve covered every single aspect in our preparations.”
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