Islington’s Masood Abdulah says he is more than ready to challenge for honours in 2023.

The 29-year-old super-featherweight scored a convincing six round 60-53 points success over Nicaragua’s Lesther Lara at Wembley's OVO Arena on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s thrilling unified world WBC, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight title defence against Hackney’s Anthony Yarde.

Afghanistan-born Abdulah could have ended Lara’s brief visit to the capital early when he went down with a left hook body shot towards the end of round five, however his rival composed himself and went on to survive the six-rounder.

And despite picking up his eighth win on the trot, Abdulah was not happy with the manner of his victory.

“My performance wasn’t great to the standard I hold myself,” he said.

“This was a last-minute call-up and I won every round comfortable and even dropped him in the fifth round. However I know I’m a lot better than what I displayed and I’m gutted I didn’t display that when it mattered.”

Former Islington ABC representative Abdulah now hopes his Queensberry Promotions paymasters, whose chief executive is Islington-born Frank Warren, can book him a domestic title shot of some sort in his next outing.

And according to British Boxing Board of Control official website he has been nominated to face Bradford’s Amin Jahanzeb for the vacant English featherweight title which is currently open to purse bids. 

“My aim now is to go for title and get myself closer to a world title,” Abdulah added.

"There’s no more warm-up fight. I feel it’s time for me to step up now. 

“I don’t think I’ll be out for a little while now. I’ll take a little time off during Ramadan and then look for a date right after.”