Boxing: Diabetic boxer Muhammad Ali signs new sponsorship with Legal Hub

Type one diabetic boxer Muhammad Ali (R) with new sponsor Legal Hub's director, Barry Taylor (L)

Type one diabetic boxer Muhammad Ali, from Rochdale, has signed a massive new sponsorship deal with legal consultancy business, Legal Hub.

Based in Manchester, Legal Hub specialises in complex banking litigation and financial mis-selling claim work, assisting claimant and defendant law firms throughout the UK.

Director Barry Taylor said: "I am very excited about the partnership with Muhammad Ali Boxing Promotions and am pleased to be sponsoring the UK's first diabetic professional boxer."

Ali made history on 15 September after winning his professional debut, becoming the first UK boxer with type one diabetes to fight, following a three-year battle against the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/122190/boxing-historic-victory-debut-for-uks-first-diabetic-boxer
   
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/118677/type-one-diabetic-boxer-from-rochdale-first-to-be-granted-professional-licence

Ali will be fighting in his fourth professional boxing contest on 9 March at the Macron Stadium, Bolton, and has a completely new training team around his camp:

The legendary Karl Ince is now his boxing coach, Martin Cullen is his strength conditioning coach, and Sam McKenzie is Ali’s nutritionist.

Ali added: “I am very privileged to be working around professional people, all for the betterment of my skills, and am thrilled and humbled with the support from Legal Hub, which only inspires me further.

“I am learning new things each and every day, working at a fast pace to reach my ultimate goal of becoming the UK's first diabetic world champion.”

Ali had previously had his application for a professional licence turned down by the BBBofC as a result of his medical condition, because checking blood sugar levels during a fight would be ‘too disruptive’ – despite contradictory advice from the national governing body for boxing.

The decision was overturned, with the support of his manager, Asad Shamim, and medical doctor, Ian Gallan, a leading diabetes consultant in the UK.