Six months will have passed since Ijaz Ahmed and Marcel Braithwaite’s controversial split decision draw and both men will be putting it all on the line for the second time on October 20th at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham for the British Super Flyweight Title.
Their first bout was a classic back and forth affair at the Dudley Town Hall, Brathwaite who hails from Liverpool took the fight on short notice but started very well, landing some solid left hooks in the third appearing to hurt the Bordesley Green based fighter.
Ahmed, who had twice previously challenged for the British title, grew into the contest, and finished strongly with his high work rate. The coveted Lord Lonsdale Belt often brings out the best in fighters and the home crowd were willing their charge on as they headed into the final rounds.
At the end of the 12 both men felt they had done enough but there was to be a horrible sense of Deja vu for the 30-year-old as his two previous title fights had ended in draws.
The three judges Mark Lyson (114-115 Braithwaite), Kevin Parker (114-114) and Terry O’Connor (117-11 Ahmed) couldn’t split them, so the belt once again remained vacant.
It was a frustrating end for both, but it showed what a tight knit contest it had been, and you have to expect a fast start as they will be looking to pick up where they left off. Braithwaite will have had a full camp this time round and had a solid win against Ryan Farrag in the interim period, but he will be up against a fiercely determined Ahmed who will be hoping the 4th time is a charm.
"I've felt hard done by on all 3 occasions, it's very upsetting when you train so hard and put your body on the line only to have a draw given.
"I should have won it by now and a rematch shouldn't even be on the cards, but we plan, God plans and ultimately, God is the best of planners so hopefully I get the nod this time".
The show will have a full supporting card featuring Ben Vaughan, Sian O’Toole, Hamza Ahmed, Hamza Azeem, Zain Ali and Tori Ellis-Willett.
Tickets for the rematch are available, priced at £40 standard or £80 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.