Ahmed endures new British title set-back

Ahmed vows: “The saga with Khademi is over. He’s out of the picture.”

BORDESLEY Green super-fly Ijaz Ahmed will leave the game with few fond memories of rival Quaise Khademi.

He could be forgiven for developing a migraine every time the Afghanistan born, London based boxer’s name is mentioned.

The pair were to have met this Friday at York Hall, Bethnal Green, for the British title – incredibly, that would’ve been the FOURTH time the two had fought each other for major honours.

Ijaz learned last week, the contest had gone south following an injury to Khademi. A proposed date last December was cancelled for the same reason.

The latest bombshell has understandably hit the 29-year-old Brummie hard. That’s a lot of hard gym graft out of the window, and not for the first time.

In reality, he and Khademi’s careers have become near chained together since their first meeting in February, 2021.

The super-flyweight scene has changed, new contenders have emerged, but they’ve remained in a state of fistic limbo.

Ijaz, son of a well-known Birmingham garage owner, is clutching one hope. Manager Errol Johnson has made his and his fighter’s feelings known to the Boxing Board of Control.

He wants to give Ahmed a British title fight at Dudley Town Hall on March 17 with a new opponent in the opposite corner.

That’s a tough ask. Super-flyweights are thin on the ground in Britain and boxing’s little men need time to make weight which requires a lengthy camp. Late subs for championship contest are hard to find.

Ijaz, however, is hopeful.

“The Ahmed-Khademi saga is over,” he told me darkly. “he’s out of the picture. It’s been around too long and there’s no reason. When I got the news he’d pulled out I thought, ‘no way, another camp has gone down the drain’.

“I was mentally ready and switched on, I was ready to go into his backyard. It takes its toll.

“I feel very upset. Every time the contest comes close, something happens. For two years I’ve been stuck with this guy.

“At the end of the day, I have to accept it was never meant to be. God is the best planner and I have to accept that. There is a higher goal and a higher purpose and your destiny is mapped out for you.

“This has taken two years of my life, since the first time I fought him to now, and I’m not getting any younger.”

Ahmed and Khademi are so evenly matched that every encounter is destined to go to the wire. Every encounter has gone to the wire.

They first in February, 2021, with versions of the European title on the line. Ahmed won that on a razor thin majority decision.

They fought again eight months later with the British title up for grabs and drew. The rematch took place last June and again ended in stalemate.

Ijaz said: “I believe very strongly I won all three fights, but the judges didn’t see it that way. When people come up and say, ‘you were robbed’ it hurts even more.”