Ijaz hopes it’s fourth time lucky for belt

Ahmed and Braithwaite both have their hands raised. Picture by MICHAEL AULT

IJAZ Ahmed will attempt to take the British super-flyweight title for the fourth time in his home city of Birmingham.

In a sequence that has gained a place in boxing history, all three previous attempts ended in draws.

At the Holiday Inn on October 20, Ijaz will again face Marcel Braithwaite, with BCB promoting.

Six months will have passed since Ijaz and Braithwaite’s controversial first in Dudley, which both felt they should’ve won.
It was a classic back and forth affair. Brathwaite, who took the fight on very short notice, started well, landing some solid left hooks in the third. The Liverpudlian was coming  in off the back of a split decision win over Thomas Essomba and had been in with high quality operators like Sunny Edwards and Jay Harris.
Ahmed grew into the contest and finished strongly. 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 there was to be a horrible sense of deja vu for the 30-year-old Bordesley Green boxer, as his two previous title shots, both against Quaisie Khademi, had ended in stalemate.

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 men. This time Braithwaite will have had a full camp, but he will be up against a fiercely determined Ahmed.
"I've felt hard done by on all three occasions, it's very upsetting when you train so hard and put your body on the line only to have a draw given,” said “Jazzy”.
"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".
*Tickets for the rematch plus full under card are available, priced at £40 standard or £80 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.