Ijaz: What I’ve been through is horrible

Ijaz Ahmed…looking for a September return with Marcel Braithwaite

IJAZ Ahmed is a man who laments his place in boxing history.

“It’s horrible,” he told me today (Saturday) as he ponders a fourth attempt to take the Lonsdale Belt.

His three previous British super-flyweight bids incredibly ended in stalemate. After twice emerging from 12 rounders with Quaise Khademi with honours even, Liverpool’s Marcel Braithwaite was brought in at short notice to face Ijaz for the vacant title.

Ahmed and Braithwaite could not be separated after a spirited Dudley Town Hall scrap last March.

Ijaz is adamant his hand should’ve been raised after each of the four draining battles. “It’s as if they don’t want me to win the British title,” he said.

Yet there were those at Dudley ringside who felt Braithwaite had done enough: he certainly looked a very capable fighter.

The general impression was: what Marcel did after just two weeks’ notice, he’ll do even better following a full camp.

Ahmed fiercely disagrees. The 30-year-old was poised to face Braithwaite in a British title return in Wolverhampton this month. That is not now happening, Ijaz, a thoroughly likeable, deeply religious individual, said.

Instead, Ahmed, whose family own a garage in Bordesley Green, is focusing on a September re-run, exact date and venue yet to be confirmed.

This time, the stakes will be higher. Braithwaite took the Commonwealth crown last month and that, too, will be on the line.

“They wanted a re-match straight away, but I couldn’t do it because of Ramadan,” Ahmed said. “It’s been put back to September. Errol (manager Errol Johnson) is trying to get a deal with one of the broadcasters so I can be on TV.”

Ijaz, who has claimed a Midlands title and two versions of the European title during a 15 bout career, is baffled by those who insist Braithwaite was unlucky first time around.

“He was able to do the 12 rounds because he was already ready,” he said. “He may not have been 100 per cent, but he was certainly 80-90 per cent. He’s not one to get out of shape, he’s always ready. That’s why he was able to last 12 rounds at the pace I put him under.

“He was working off the back-foot, blocking what I was throwing at him. I won that fight.

“If you understand the rules of boxing, the person who throws and hits more wins the fight. It’s that simple. Fair play to him, he was throwing the bigger, telling shots that made people get off their seats, but he didn’t trouble me, he didn’t put me down. But I was throwing more punches, landing more punches and didn’t get hit a lot.

“Three times I’ve fought for the British title and three times I’ve drawn. It’s outrageous – it’s never happened before and it will probably never happen again. It’s horrible.

“Three camps back-to-back take their toll on your body – and I’m no spring chicken. I’m reaching the end at super-flyweight. People who understand boxing know what it takes to get into shape during those camps.

“People have said they would’ve have thrown in their hat and walked away after the first time. It’s happened to me three times.”

Ijaz stressed his faith has helped him overcome the hard times.

He added: “I’m a religious man and I believe everything happens for a reason. I’ll try me hardest and what unfolds is pre-ordained by God.

“If it is written, it will happen.”