The 35-year-old light-heavyweight is constantly in training, even when he has no fights on the horizon, because he is so “passionate” about his career.

He told Boxing News magazine: “I started out on the small halls and have grafted away. I’ve stayed in the gym when I could have got fat.

“I train full-time. I love being in the gym and I live within my means. I don’t have to impress anyone.

“Boxing is my job and I enjoy it. I wasn’t bullied. I wasn’t in gangs.

“I had a strict upbringing, but I box because I’m passionate about it – I like getting up and going to the gym.

“Boing isn’t a nine-to-five job. I see it as a continuous development plan.

“Others train when they get a date for a fight and when they go back to the gym they have to lose weight and get rid of the rust.

“I choose to stay in the gym all the time, working on things.

“If Ishmael Davis had got fat instead of staying in the gym, he wouldn’t be where he is now.”

While Shakan’s boxer dad Colin was his “hero”, he hopes to be as much of an inspiration to his nine-year-old daughter Leilani.

He said “I used to watch my dad fight on TV. My dad was my hero. I used to watch in amazement.

“Now I have a daughter of my own watching me fight.

“She is my motivation. I keep striving for her.”