By Jake Donovan

In gearing up for its strong 2017 season, the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) circuit is back in the business of recruiting new talent.

The latest to join the fold is Izuagbe Ugonoh, a Poland-based heavyweight of Nigerian descent who entered an advisory agreement with Haymon Sports, LLC.

“This is my moment and 2017 is my year,” Ugonoh (17-0, 14KOs) said in a press statement. “I want to challenge myself and show the world how good I am. I believe the heavyweight division is wide open right now, and the top fighters are going to bring the best out of me. If I do what I’m supposed to do, I can see myself fighting for a world championship in the next 18 months."

The 30-year-old Ugonoh — born in Szczecin, Poland, to Nigerian parents — is a former Polish kickboxing champion who took up boxing in 2010.

"Ugonoh fits in well with the current group of young heavyweights who are vying for supremacy in a division stacked with talent,’’ said Tim Smith, VP of Communication for Haymon Boxing. “We’re excited that he has selected Haymon Boxing to help him pursue his career aspirations.’’

Ugonoh turned pro in 2010, fighting primarily out of Poland before hooking up with veteran cornerman Kevin Barry in 2014. All of his bouts since then have taken place in New Zealand, prominently featured on the undercard of his gym stablemate and top heavyweight contender Joseph Parker.

His most recent win came in October, stopping Gregory Tony in the 2nd round of their chief supporting bout in Manukau City, New Zealand. He has stopped each of his past five opponents, none lasting longer than four rounds.

"We’ve had eight fights together. They’ve all been in New Zealand. He’s destroyed everything that we’ve put in front of him,’’ Barry said. “He’s been hugely responsible for the development of Joseph Parker. He’s a very gifted athlete. I could see that from the get go. With Joseph Parker getting his chance for a world title, now it’s Izu’s time to take his path to the world title.’’

Ugonoh says he plans to train in Las Vegas, fight out of the U.S. and represent Poland, with his stateside debut tentatively slated for the first quarter of 2017.

“I was born in Poland. My family lives in Poland. I will always represent Poland,’’ Ugonoh said.

Ugonoh has a master’s degree from Jedrzej Sniadecki School of Physical Education and Sports in Gdansk, Poland. Focusing on becoming an elite, all-around fighter, he trained in kickboxing, boxing and martial arts. A true renaissance man, Ugonoh was also a contestant on the past season of “Dancing With the Stars” in Poland, making it to the seminfinal round of competition on the hit reality series.

“It was a lot of work,” he said. “I trained for 35 hours a week to dance for 1 minute 15 seconds on the show. Dancing was more work than boxing,” he laughed. “People laugh when I say that because they think I’m joking, but it was as much work as training camp. One of the key benefits is it improved my footwork in the ring.”

The only dancing planned in Ugonoh's future is moving and shaking to the top of the heavyweight division.

"I want to get to the big stage. New Zealand has 4 million people. Poland has 40 million people,’’ Ugonoh said. “The next step is to go to America, and the right people to go with is Haymon Boxing. We want to work with the best. I’m dedicated and hardworking. Right now it’s about finding the right people to be with to get to where I want to be.’’

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2