Nabil is boxing clever ahead of first pro fight
ARU second-year student will face Jake Bray at famous York Hall on January 31
Nabil Abdullahi training in the gym - photograph by YSR Optics
Anglia Ruskin University second-year student Nabil Abdullahi is preparing for his first professional boxing fight after being signed by a management company connected to legendary promoter Frank Warren.
Nabil, who lives in Cambridge, will take on Jake Bray in a light heavyweight bout at the famous York Hall boxing venue in Bethnal Green, East London, on Saturday, 31 January.
Having boxed since 2021 at amateur level, Nabil was a finalist in the English Boxing National Amateur Championships in 2025, after reaching the semi-finals in 2024.
Nabil showed enough promise as an amateur to catch the eye of Warren Boxing Management, and was signed as a professional in the autumn.
After initially being more of a fan of basketball, 6ft 3ins Nabil turned to boxing after losing one too many play fights with his older brother.
“My brother used to beat me up, so I guess I thought it was time I learned how to fight back,” laughed Nebil. “He always told me I should start boxing.
“Initially I took part in a white collar fight, and I did well so I took it to the next stage and started to fight as an amateur and just kept winning.”
Currently Nabil’s record stands at 24 wins from 30 fights, and he is preparing for his first professional bout by heading twice a week to TM Boxing gym in Tooting, London, for training while studying for his BSc (Hons) Business Management degree at ARU.
“Juggling studies with boxing has definitely been difficult especially with having to travel to London and back consistently. Studying on the train and being well fuelled helps me get my work done but also my boxing work done.
“I’m hoping now I’ve turned professional, my Business Management degree will provide me with the tools to navigate that environment, and also help me with whatever comes next.”
Nabil AbdullahiOne of the biggest challenges facing Nabil ahead of his first professional fight was staying disciplined with diet over the holiday period.
Light heavyweight boxers need be no heavier than 80kg when they undertake a weigh-in a few days ahead of a fight, with boxers commonly weighing more outside of these times and then having to undergo a ‘cut’, an intense diet and fitness regime to shed the excess pounds to enable them to make weight.
In December, Nabil worked with a nutritionist to keep him on track during the festive period.
“It’s hard to not graze, but generally I eat what I am told to eat, with maybe the odd advent calendar chocolate as well.
“I feel in great shape and I’m really looking forward to the fight.”
Nabil AbdullahiAnyone interested in attending the show can contact Nabil directly through his Instagram account – @nabilunbannedd – for tickets.