Shakan Pitters

Shakan Pitters, born on July 31, 1989, in Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom, is a British professional boxer competing in the light-heavyweight division. He stands at an impressive 6 feet 6 inches tall. Growing up in Birmingham, Pitters was influenced by his father, Colin Pitters, a former professional boxer, as well as his two brothers, Anwar and Aundra, who both pursued amateur boxing. Although Shakan initially played football, an injury prompted him to shift his focus to boxing, where he ultimately found his true passion.

Pitters grew up in Solihull, a suburban area in the West Midlands. While not much is publicly known about his childhood, it was evident early on that he possessed a large frame and impressive athleticism.

Pitters had a distinguished amateur career, winning two Midland titles, a Birmingham title, a Redditch Box Cup gold medal, and reaching the semi-finals of the National ABA competition twice. He began boxing at Second City ABC under the guidance of trainer Paddy Farrell. Turning professional in 2017, Pitters debuted as a cruiserweight, securing a four-round points decision victory over Remigijus Ziausys.

He continued to accumulate wins that year, defeating fighters such as Jevgenijs Andrejevs, Dmitrij Kalinovskij, and Jiri Svacina. In 2018, Pitters gained widespread attention by winning the Ultimate Boxxer II tournament, where he triumphed over Dec Spelman in the final. His rise through the professional ranks culminated in winning the British light-heavyweight title in August 2020 against Chad Sugden. However, his championship bout in February 2025 resulted in a loss to Cyrus Pattinson, where Pitters was defeated by unanimous decision. Outside of boxing, Pitters has pursued opportunities in modeling, signing with Em and making appearances during London Fashion Week.

Pitters is known for mastering the art of counterpunching while maintaining constant pressure on his opponents. His quick reflexes allow him to slip punches and create openings, utilizing head movement to stay defensively sound while never losing offensive momentum. One of his key strengths is his ability to stay in the pocket, where he uses his head movement to avoid punches, making it difficult for opponents to land clean shots while still being in position to strike. His slip and counter drills focus on slipping punches and immediately countering with hooks and uppercuts, turning defense into offense with fluid precision.

Pitters’ in-the-pocket defense drill emphasizes staying in close range, using subtle head movements to avoid damage while staying in position to retaliate. His ability to stay close, yet elusive, makes him a dangerous opponent who thrives in tight exchanges. His shoulder roll is another critical aspect of his defense, as it helps deflect punches while keeping him in range to counter quickly, never allowing his opponent to fully settle into their rhythm. This defensive intelligence allows him to read his opponent’s intentions. His 1-2 ( jab right cross) is his spear and shield, allowing him to both defend and attack with equal effectiveness.