DOMESTICALLY, the light-heavyweight scene is the most packed division in Britain at present, with a host of contenders seeking to thrust themselves into world title shots during 2025. However, one name currently flying under the radar is Shakan Pitters, 19-2 (6 KOs).
Now, Pitters has the chance to re-announce himself as a threat at 175lbs as he gears up for a shot at European honours on Friday night against Daniel Dos Santos, 22-1 (10 KOs).
Standing at 6’6”, Pitters has always been a fighter that has caught the eye, being an unorthodox opponent for anybody at the weight. In 2019, the Brummie showed that he was more than just a physical challenge, as he captured the English title with a victory over Dec Spelman and then stuck to the conventional route to claim the British title against Chad Sugden the following year.
Yet, his glory as a British champion was short-lived, halted by Craig Richards in the ninth round of an attempted first defence of the Lonsdale Belt.
Pitters would then return with a trifecta of victories, the last of which being a career-best stoppage of Reece Cartwright, consequently earning the shot to reclaim the coveted domestic crown in a showdown with Dan Azeez – where Pitters would go on to lose by unanimous decision.
After two successes in 2023 and an inactive 2024, the now 35-year-old Pitters will return to action in a tough test against Dos Santos, surpassing the British title in a bid for the EBU European strap on Friday night.
Dos Santos comfortably outpointed fellow Frenchman Thomas Faure, 24-6-1, (2 KOs), to become a two-time European champion last June and was expected to collide with Pitters in Paris in November, until TV coverage and eventually, the show itself was cancelled.
Instead, ‘Panthere’ hopes to defend the title on away soil as he travels to the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield to top a GBM Sports bill against Pitters and potentially rise into the world rankings. He will hope to fare better than he did the last time he faced a Briton.
That is because the lone blemish on the record of Dos Santos is a result of his meeting with Joshua Buatsi, who made short work of the Oise-born contender when scoring a fourth-round knockout in their main-event at a Covid-impacted Manchester Arena back in 2021.
On this Friday’s undercard, the standout name is Shakiel Thompson, 13-0 (9 KOs), who had been linked to a shock challenge for the unified middleweight world titles against 160lb poster boy Janibek Alimkhanuly last week. Although, whispers of what would be a mammoth jump up in levels for the South Yorkshireman have since gone quiet.
Despite it being fight week, an opponent has not yet been confirmed for Thompson, and the same can be said for two-time English champion Reece Mould, 19-3 (6 KOs), as well as promising 25-year-old lightweight Donte Dixon, 7-0 (3 KOs) – who are also poised for an appearance.
The full card will be available to watch live on DAZN, with ring walks for the main event expected to take place around 10pm BST.
