There might be an awkward moment in the coming weeks when, having fought one another, Khaleel Majid and his opponent Alex Murphy bump into one another away from the ring.

They fight on Saturday at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on the undercard of Joe Joyce-Filip Hrgovic, and there is plenty at stake for both – not least local bragging rights.

“I’m currently 14 and 0, and the opponent is 13 and 0,” said Majid. “It’s quite a local derby, as we both live about 15-to-20 minutes away from each other. So it’s a massive fight, and I would say it’s a career-defining fight, because I’m sure the winner will push on to do bigger, better things in the sport, so it’s a bit of a crossroads, if that makes sense.”

Majid, from Bolton, England has four stoppages from his 14 victories, while Salford’s Murphy has gone to the scorecards every time.  

“I know Alex,” Majid added. “I’ve been to his gym. I’ve never sparred him, but I’ve been to his gym twice in the past month or so. I was training there. I’ve never spoken to him. Truly, really speaking, he was never on my radar. I didn’t know I was fighting him until I came out of the ring from my last fight five weeks ago. I remember just coming out of the ring, and my dad told me, ‘You’re fighting him next’.” 

“I was like, ‘All right, okay, no problem’.”

While Majid’s record is a perfect one, his career has not been straightforward. 

He built up on the small halls having missed out on signing for Frank Warren early on. Then he signed with Matchroom, and after stopping Tom Farrell it seemed like he was destined for a breakthrough.

But he only fought once in 2024 and then boxed in February in Bolton. He won both times on points, but the inactivity has been a source of frustration, and the partnership with Matchroom is in the past.
“I had a promotional contract with Matchroom,” Majid explained. “Listen, I’m thankful to Matchroom for everything they’ve done for me. Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith, I believe I have a great relationship with them. They both speak very highly of me. I’ll be truthful, I don’t know what exactly went on. 

“I’ll always be thankful to them because they were the first two that gave me my opportunity and gave me a chance. I think there’s some misunderstanding behind the scenes via a third party. That’s all.”

Majid recalls Hearn singing his praises after the significant win over Farrell, and it is from that career high point that he hopes to regain momentum on Saturday.

“Honestly, I believe I can go all the way because I wouldn’t waste my time doing it,” said the 27 year old. “And most importantly, I won’t be wasting my dad’s time, my coach’s time, my family’s time. I’ve sacrificed a lot for this sport. I’ve given it my all. So if I don’t see myself going to the top, there’s just no point me doing it.”

Majid’s father, Amar, is a plumber by trade. He used to be a Thai boxer, and Majid was – in his words – “just a chubby kid”. He went to Bury ABC, where Amir Khan was training before he turned pro, and he watched Bolton’s Olympic silver medallist working out. Majid just started punching the bag, and things went from there. He had his first fight at 11, got to the finals of the nationals the year after that, later boxed for England, fought in the European games, and racked up “97 or 98” fights with only seven losses.

He has developed into “a fast, explosive, and smart boxer”, and says Murphy, like him, has a point to prove.

But Majid is not letting himself get too far ahead. He remembers the limbo he found himself in after Farrell, when a rocket seemed set to be attached to his career.

“Honestly, I remember 2023, after my Tom Farrell fight, I got promised this, I got promised that, and nothing materialised,” he recalled. “So now, listening to my coach, Buddy [McGirt], I just take one fight at a time and just focus on one fight at a time. I don’t put my energy into nothing else or what’s after; just focus on the present.”

Before signing with Matchroom, Majid had gone to Los Angeles and watched McGirt training fighters. They started talking, Majid pitched himself to the hall of famer, they had a trial, and sealed their partnership.

“And I remember the first session we had, we just clicked, and since then we’ve been together for just over two years.”

Majid’s mother, Nabila, has been unwell, so he has been training mostly at home, being on hand to look after her. Fortunately, she is recovering, and McGirt has been in the UK since returning from Saudi Arabia, when he oversaw Callum Smith’s victory over Joshua Buatsi.

“God willing this year, I’ll pick up my first title,” he said. “I believe I’ve just got to perform, like Buddy tells me, ‘Always just go out and do what you can do and people will take notice’. In 2023, I ended the year on such a high, everyone was raving about me, and obviously 2024 was inactivity due to problems outside the ring, and now 2025, I've kick-started it in a positive manner, so God willing this year, I believe this will be my breakout year.”

The next step is on Saturday, in an audition for Queensberry Promotions. Majid is boxing on a one-fight deal, but is ready to make the most of his opportunity.

“I want to give a thanks to Queensberry,” he added. “Also, I’ve got over 1,000 people coming in to support me, so it’s amazing.”

His father, Amar, shifts most of the tickets. He goes to the markets, and sells tickets everywhere he goes and to anyone he can.

It is a following Majid has been able to build even away from the major shows. In fact, it was cultivated by coming up away from the biggest of bills. 

“I had to go back on the small halls,” he said, reflecting on missing out on signing with Warren years earlier. “But I’m glad I did, because it made me build up a good support system, from grassroots, and it’d be great to catch the eye of Frank Warren on Saturday. I mean, he’s a legend of the sport, he’s in the hall of fame, and I know him as well, so it’d be great.”