David Johnson reckons the rising 19-year-old middleweight from Southcote has all the attributes to reach the very top.

Johnson watched Faraz cruise to victory over Manchester’s Rhys Yates in the second round of their title eliminator in the Queensbury Boxing League at Liverpool’s Millennium Arena last month.

His performance drew high praise from former world title challenger, Ross Minter, son of former undisputed World Middleweight champion, Alan.

And Johnson said: “I’ve been a coach for 25 years and I’ve never had a boy like this before, there’s something about this kid.

“We’re looking to step it up and for somebody to test him and take him the distance, so we’ve got to go for a British title fight.

“We would like to take on Daniel Spencer for the British belt in the New Year.

“I know what Faraz is capable of. He puts everything into his training and he’s determined to be a success.

“He’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Naseem Hamed for a long time.”

Akram is a relative newcomer to boxing but is taking the sport by storm.

He started out with the Real Deal Boxing Club in Richfield Avenue but, when they were forced to close earlier this year, he moved with Johnson to Camberley Boxing Club.

“There’s a saying in boxing that you need a good amateur career first in order to become a successful professional, but Faraz is proving that wrong,” explained Johnson.

“He spent two to three years in the gym before his first fight, and now look at him. His power and timing are phenomenal.

“His last opponent had 31 fights under his belt and had won a number of amateur titles.

“He was a real tidy fighter but Faraz blew him away. He dispatched him with ease.

“He put him down with a tremendous knockout punch that would have knocked out most people.”

Faraz is currently semi-professional and combines training with his day jobs which include helping out with his parents’ business and working as a hotel night porter.

The teenager now hopes to turn professional in the months ahead and he is seeking a sponsor to help him achieve his dream.

“Faraz comes from a good, Muslim background and he is getting married in January,” added Johnson.

“He’s absolutely focused on being the best he can be. There is a big Asian community in this area and he’s gaining more and more fans with every fight. He’s thriving on the experience, he loves every minute of it.

“We’re looking for a sponsor who can help Faraz go full-time. Obviously, the more he can train the better he will get, but at the moment he is semi professional and has to combine it with work.

“But this is a terrific opportunity for a business or business person to back an up and coming boxer with the world at his feet.”