Aqib Fiaz’s manager says the Oldham fighter is taking a calculated risk after being confirmed as part of Eddie Hearn’s ‘Fight Camp’ Series.

The Lees lightweight will be in action on August 7 as part of promoters Matchroom’s behind closed doors events taking place in the grounds of their headquarters in Brentwood, Essex as boxing begins to return following the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Fiaz, who has won all of his five fights thus far, will face a step up in opposition in former Midlands Area champion Kane Baker who has won 13 of 19 as a professional.

Steve Wood, who looks after the career of the 20-year-old who trains with Jamie Moore alongside world-class fighters including Carl Frampton, Jack Catterall and Martin Murray, believes that it is a good move for a fighter considered to be a top prospect in the sport.

“Considering he’s a ticket seller you’d think we’d be mad the way we’ve been matching him,” Wood told VIP Boxing.

“But Jamie’s got so much confidence in him that putting him into a hard fight and moving up to eight rounds after just five fights, he didn’t hesitate.

“Even though he’s only young, you’ve got time on your hands with Aqib and he’s a ticket seller so you could progress him slower, he’s not fighting for that.

“He’s such a dedicated kid, he’s in the gym learning, first in, last out, doing all the runs and all that.

“Why do all that and not fight at the end of the day?

“We’ve taken a risk with Kane Baker but it’s a risk that’s calculated and he’s more than capable of winning.

“We didn’t have to take it but we’re more than happy to and I’m sure he’ll shine on the night.”

Fiaz was last in action with a points win over Dean Jones on his Manchester Arena debut in March, Jono Carroll sending Scott Quigg into retirement in the main event.

That was also the first fight under the Matchroom promotional banner for Oldham’s rising star, Hearn then snapping him up on a multi-fight deal in April with Fiaz having been waiting patiently while sport was on hold due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

Following the retirements of Quigg and Anthony Crolla, Hearn is hoping Fiaz can become one of the main attractions of some big Manchester fight nights in the future.

His next outing is on the second fight camp card, headlined by Terri Harper defending her WBC and IBO World super-featherweight titles against Tasha Jonas in an all-British affair.

Fighters will be expected to enter a bubble ahead of their contests and, alongside officials, staff and media, will undergo testing for Covid-19.

Fiaz’s fight is set to be live on Sky Sports, the August 7 show also featuring Chris Billam-Smith defending his Commonwealth cruiserweight title against Nathan Thorley.