Black Country Boxing Promotions held a British and Commonwealth super Flyweight title at the Holiday Inn Birmingham (20.10.23). The show consisted of seven fights with Ijaz Ahmed headlining taking on Marcel Braithwaite over twelve three-minute rounds for the titles. There were two female contests both over six two-minute rounds with Sian O’Toole and Tori-Ellis Willetts fighting out of the home corner. All three of these contests have already been reported on with links below. The four remaining contests saw Ben Vaughan doing a ten-round contest with Hamzah Ahmed, Hamze Azeem and Zain Ali all doing four-rounders’ coming out of the hone corner.
We start the report with Hamze Azeem who was taking on Liam Griffiths in a four-round contest. This was Azeem (23) from Birmingham’s fourth contest of his career after winning his first three. Azeem weighed in eleven stone nine with Griffiths coming in eleven stone ten in this Middleweight contest with Ryan Churchill reffing.
Azeem controlled a very scrappy first round either both parties holding with Azeem just edging it. The second was another scrappy round with Azeem on the front foot winning the round. Griffiths landed a few shots on the back of Azeem's head in the third which sparked the southpaw into life. Azeem poured on the pressure winning the round on his work rate. The fourth was another scrappy round with Griffiths doing all the holding but while in a clinch he was dropped by a body shot from Azeem, the ref started to count he got to his feet and was allowed to continue and stayed safe and saw the round out.
Judge Chris Dean scored it 40 to 35 to Azeem I had it the same.
Next up was debutant Zain Ali who was taking on George Rogers in a Middleweight four-round contest. Birmingham-born Ali weighed in eleven stone four with Rogers coming in eleven stone six with Ryan Churchill reffing.
Good first round for Ali as he controlled the pace and put some nice shots together as Rogers tried to counter on the back foot. Rogers had a go in the second getting some good shots off, Ali returned fire and took the round with the better work rate. Rogers put the pressure on in the third and made Ali fight on the back foot, Ali got some eye-catching shots off but this was Rogers's round. Ali came out strong in the third but Rogers just outworked the Birmingham lad winning the round.
Judge Chris Dean Scored it 38 to 38 a draw I had it the same.
We then move to another four-rounder between Walsall fighter Hamzah Ahmed and Birmingham’s Logan Paling. Ahmed won on his debut in June of this year and will be looking to make it two without defeat. Ahmed weighed in nine stone twelve with Paling coming in the same in this super lightweight contest with Chris Dean reffing.
Ahmed controlled the centre of the ring and picked his shots well going head and body as Paling covered up and tried to counter. Paling got some nice shots off in the second but Ahmed was in full control with everything coming off a nice jab going head and body well. Ahmed picked his shots well in the third blasting in some nice backhands winning the round., Ahmed landed some big shots but was warned by the ref Chris Dean for a low blow, Ahmed continued to apply the pressure as Paling moved and stayed safe.
Ref Chris Dean scored it 46 to 36 to Ahmed, I had it the same.
The final fight of the report was a ten-round contest between unbeaten southpaw Ben Vaughan taking on the very credible Jimmy Cooper. Vaughan (24) from Northampton came into the contest winning all six of his pro contests, Cooper (34) from Southampton had an impressive record of ten wins one draw, and one defeat. Vaughan weighed in ten stone eight with Cooper coming in ten stone nine in a super Welterweight contest with Chris Dean reffing.
Vaughan came out firing in the first with Cooper forced to fight on the back foot, Vaughan unlisted volleys of shots to Cooper's head and body, Cooper landed a shot that opened up a cut above Vaughan’s left eye, Vaughan continued to land shots to the head and body winning the round. Vaughan was looked at by the doctor at the start of the second and was allowed to continue, Vaughan came out again fast and continued the high once blasting in big combinations to Cooper's head and body, Cooper got some good shots off but Vaughan won the round. Vaughan used Cooper as a punching bag in the third landing big shots to the head and body. Vaughan looked like he was in full survival mode as he hardly threw a punch in the round. Vaughan came out with intent and continued to bang in big combinations, Vaughan then landed a massive right hand which put Cooper down. Cooper got to his feet but his corner threw in the towel with forty-five seconds of the fourth round gone.
Vaughan wins with a fourth-round stoppage
Dexter’s Thoughts
What a great show with a great undercard and a great main event. Hamza Azeem took his record to four without defeat in a very scrappy contest, he battled hard to get the win against an opponent who just wanted to spoil and survive the fight.
Zain Ali impressed at the start of his contest but as his opponent grew into the contest you could see he was still a work in progress. He managed to get a draw which isn’t the end of the world as he can learn from this result and improve.
Hamza Ahmed took his record to four without defeat beating the very game Logan Paling. It was an impressive performance with Ahmed showing his skills.
Ben Vaughan really impressed with a cracking stoppage victory over a very credible Jimmy Cooper who had only lost once in twelve contests. He was relentless as he poured on the pressure until he stopped Cooper even the cut above his eye didn’t seem to bother him.
The Birmingham Boxing Column would like to thank BcB Promotions for having us there and look forward to the next one.