New pro Zain is still searching for a win

Zain Ali…drew for the second time at Eastside Rooms

IT’S fair to say the professional apprenticeship of Zain Ali is not going to plan.

The 25-year-old has drawn both his contests – the latest stalemate coming on Anthony Manning’s Saturday show at Birmingham’s Eastside rooms.

The “glass half full” brigade will rightly point out Ali has yet to lose. He is unbeaten.

They miss the point. The former Nechells Green amateur has not been thrown in against monsters. He has met men he was expected to beat.

George Rogers, who dampened Zain’s debut celebrations in October, currently boasts one win in 38 outings (four draws).

Last weekend’s opponent, Ian Morrall – a Brummie now based in Milton Keynes – has yet to register a win after eight starts.

Both, in all honesty, were picked to provide likeable Zain with a victory.

Whether through nerves or stamina, Ali – yet to go beyond the four round distance – fluffed it on both occasions.

In fairness, Morrall, who shared a 38-38 decision with the local favourite, is a full grown middleweight. Ali is a light-middle who looks capable of trimming down to welter.

And Zain is adamant he did enough to win.

“My fans keep the faith,” he told me, “because they know who won. On the evening, I was a bit angry, but that’s gone.

“Johnny Nelson (who went on to become world cruiserweight champ) lost his first three.” So did former British and European middleweight titleholder Bunny Sterling.

Zain has a good following: he sold 130 tickets for his debut, 102 for the Morrall bout. He’s certain those followers will be rewarded with a win.

Those numbers mean promoters will want him to win.

“He was a tough lad,” Ali said, “and I’d improved on my last performance. I was more aggressive and didn’t go to the ropes. He didn’t really hit me with nothing.

“The last fight I was a bit fatigued. For this one, I was a bit fatigued, but not until the last round. It is what it is.”

It’s a concern that, on both occasions, Ali felt the pace. Pros should not flag over four rounds.

He said: “It’s a bit upsetting, but Johnny Nelson lost his first three fights and look what he achieved. If I’d had two losses, I would’ve packed in, but I’m still unbeaten.”

Zain admits there’s room for improvement.

“In this fight I was happy with certain things, unhappy with certain things,” he admitted.

“I was unhappy that when I had him hurt I didn’t show more killer instinct. I should’ve thrown more uppercuts.”

Zain, a thoroughly nice individual, is still learning the ropes. He is a work in progress and cannot be judged too harshly.

But he knows a much improved performance is required when he again steps through the ropes in July.