Both Atang and Casey were on the Bakhram Murtazaliev versus Josh Kelly undercard, for their first fights of 2026 at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.

Having ended 2025 as unbeaten professional boxers, turning pro last year, the York-born fighters have been working hard as Legion’s Boxing Gym under Head Boxing Coach Ashley Martin.

For Atang, he faced off against 33-year-old Belgian Amine Boucetta, and arguably found it as his biggest test yet.

Boucetta is the first fighter to have made it out of the first round against Atang, but was wobbled by the heavyweight with numerous hooks and body shots that saw the former fall on the mat.

But in the third round, Atang got his fourth professional victory by KO, beating the Belgian after a dominant performance in the ring.

Speaking to BBC York after the win, Atang commented: “I’m buzzing. I got the rounds in like I wanted, then obviously got the finish as well so it was all perfect.

“Pretty nice work.

“I went in and he wasn’t throwing much, so I thought I’d have to step on it here.

“This is where he is experienced, he’s tricky and knows what he’s doing.

“He’s surviving, that’s what the experience is and the puzzles that they put in front of us.

“We’re getting those fights and are learning, I tried to stop him in the first because he wasn’t throwing, but then I realised that you’ve got to be patient.

“You’ve got to touch him a bit more, noticed he was drifting right and found the littler shots that opened up the body.”

Leo Atang (left) and Amine Boucetta during their heavyweight bout. (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

Atang’s next fight has already been confirmed, on the undercard of Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington on Saturday, February 21 at the Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham.

Meanwhile, Casey also took his professional record to 4-0 after a 40-36 points victory against Lee Roberts.

The cruiserweight York star dominated the first two rounds, but did take a heavy hit when struck by an uppercut in the third round – a good lesson for the 21-year-old prospect.

Nevertheless, Casey persevered and was awarded a victory against fellow Englishman Roberts after an unanimous points victory.

Casey also told BBC York: “I’m very happy with it, the first two rounds especially I boxed perfect.

“Lessons learned from it, this is what I want, I don’t just want some idiot whose going to try and survive and take a knee when it gets tough, I want to be in these types of fights.

“They are going to come to win, and big lessons.

“I thought I boxed perfect in the first two rounds and I caught him big in the third, rushed it a bit.

“This is the lessons I take from it, about being patient.

“I’m learning each fight, I’m getting better each fight and the team was saying that the performance was class, improving every time.

“It’s good to hear the feedback.”