BcB Promotions held their British and Commonwealth title show at the Holiday Inn Birmingham (20.10.23). The contest was over twelve three-minute rounds and was being contested by Birmingham’s Ijaz Ahmed who was taking on Liverpudlian Marcel Braithwaite. The two fighters had already contested for the titles in March of this year but was deemed a split draw by the judges. This was Ahmed’s (30) fourth attempt at winning the Lonsdale Super Flyweight title after drawing his last three attempts. Braithwaite (29) who was putting his Commonwealth super Flyweight title on the line had brought a massive following down from Liverpool. Ahmed weighed in eight stone one with Braithwaite coming in eight stone two with A Star Referee Kevin Parker the third person in the ring and the three judges being Lee Evans, Bob Williams and Terry O’Connor.
Good start by both fighters with both of them getting good shots off, Braithwaite just edged
the first round with the bigger shots. Good movement from Braithwaite in the second as Ahmed got some good shots off but it was Braithwaite’s counters that won him the round. Both fighters let their hands go in a very entertaining third round, both fighters landed good shots but I could not split them. Ahmed pressed hard in the fourth but Braithwaite countered well getting off the cleaner shots in a back-and-forth round. The fifth was another round where Ahmed pressed forward but Braithwaite countered well.
Braithwaite landed some nice body shots in the sixth but Ahmed continued to press and land some good shots of his own. The seventh was a very hard-fought round but Braithwaite was landing the more eye-catching shots which won him the round. The eighth was another hard-fought round with Ahmed landing the better and more eye-catching shots to nick the round. Braithwaite came out strong in the ninth and put together some nice combinations as Ahmed looked to return fire, Ahmed then touched down after Braithwaite landed a heavy combination, Ahmed rose to his feet as the ref counted, he was allowed to carry on but Braithwaite was not in any mood to leave this to the judge’s and poured on the pressure with some big combinations to Ahmed body and head. A courageous Ahmed continued to try and fight back but touched down again with ref Kevin Parker stopping the fight one minute thirty-seven seconds into the ninth.
Braithwaite New British Super Flyweight Champion.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Absolutely gutted for Ahmed as I did think it would be the fourth time lucky for him. I will say that he didn’t seem to fight like I have seen him before whether he was carrying injuries, I’m not sure but he did seem a step behind Braithwaite who was really impressed. Braithwaite showed a lot of determination and heart putting everything in, in every round, and with his massive following that had come down from Liverpool, he was inspired to win.
Ahmed can now move on from his British title dilemma and look a contesting for different titles, he has won two European titles so could contest for the EBU version and if he wants to challenge for the British again or look at the world scene. Ahmed is thirty years old and has the experience and skills to put this defeat behind him and contest for more major titles. Whatever he chooses to do he is already a Birmingham Boxing Column Hall of Famer and the Column will follow him and his career.