Shabaz Masoud

Shabaz “Maverick” Masoud is a British professional boxer from Stoke-on-Trent who has established himself as one of the leading fighters of his generation at super-bantamweight. Born in Rochdale to British-Pakistani parents, Masoud later moved to Stoke and studied Sports Development at Staffordshire University before leaving his studies to pursue boxing full-time.

Masoud turned professional in 2018 and gradually built his reputation through a series of increasingly difficult tests. In 2022, he scored the biggest win of his career at the time when he stopped previously unbeaten Jack Bateson in the final round to win the WBA Intercontinental super-bantamweight title. The victory established Masoud as a serious contender on the British scene and helped earn him a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing in 2023.

His next major breakthrough came against Liam Davies in November 2024. After the fight was postponed earlier that year, Masoud defeated Davies by split decision over 12 rounds to win the IBO super-bantamweight title. The victory came in a competitive domestic fight between two fighters who had already faced each other twice as amateurs.

Masoud returned to the ring in December 2025 after more than a year away from competition, facing fellow British Olympian Peter McGrail in Monte Carlo for the vacant European super-bantamweight title. After a competitive opening, Masoud adjusted behind his jab and began controlling the fight, using his boxing ability and accurate counters to build a lead. He finished the 12-round contest with a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring it 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113 in his favor. The victory added the European title to his résumé and marked another significant step in his rise at 122 pounds.

Masoud has since set his sights on bigger challenges, including the possibility of moving up to featherweight as making the super-bantamweight limit becomes more difficult. A slick and versatile boxer, he combines speed, movement and accurate punching with a willingness to engage when necessary. Trained by Ben Davison, Masoud has developed into a technically accomplished fighter whose ambitions now extend beyond domestic titles toward world championships and potentially success across multiple weight divisions.