‘I’m a Birmingham catwalk model who used to be a boxing champion before appearing at London Fashion Week’

He is the top boxing champ who has swapped the ring walk for the catwalk. 

And former British light-heavyweight champ Shakan Pitters is now proving such a knockout as a model he’s predicted to be the face of 2024. The Birmingham 34-year-old has signed with a major agency and is set to conquer America. Pitters, who has lost only two of 21 fights as a pro, says there’s similarities between boxing and the modelling industry. 

“If you’re not performing in both, there will be questions and consequences,” he said. “In some ways, modelling is just as competitive because you have models of all ages, there are a lot of tall people in it. It’s all about your looks, what you know, your characteristics. It probably takes a bit more luck.” 

Shakan’s success away from the blood and bruises industry is no surprise. With chiselled features and standing 6ft 6ins, he’s a striking physical specimen. 

The father to an eight-year-old daughter burst on the scene at London Fashion Week early last year and now struts his stuff on catwalks up and down the country. The brands he represents include Kwame Koranteng, a much sought after suits label. 

“Unlike a ring walk, when you step on the catwalk you know you’re not going to be punched in the face,” Shakan said. “It came to me quite naturally. I don’t get any of those butterflies. I know I’m not going to trip up, I’m not in high heels or anything. It’s about concentrating on the faces in the audience. You look straight ahead and smile and you have to do five different things in one day.” 

Shakan began modelling when one of his ring sponsors, suit company House of Cavani, put his image on a billboard erected on the M6. The advert opened doors to a new career, though Shakan remains focused on his boxing career. 

Fellow fighters who train at top Birmingham gym Eastside are backing their stablemate’s modelling career. “The banter is there,” he admitted, “they have their little jokes, but they’ve all been supportive.” 

And things are definitely happening for a man whose list of ring achievements include winning the British and English titles, an international belt and the lucrative Ultimate Boxxer tournament. His bouts are regularly screened on TV. 

Shakan’s new modelling contract could make his name internationally and see him promoting household brands. “Like anything else you do in life, you have to take it to the top tier,” he said. “You have to see that potential. I’ll take it as far as I can.” 

And he’s had no problems juggling two very different careers.  Shakan added: “I fit the fashion work around what I’m doing, it’s about being flexible and planning your day.” It’s no longer a pipedream. Shakan Pitters could be the first to move from the violence of professional boxing to the front cover of Vogue.