Stoppage loss rules Ellis out of title fight

Ishmael Ellis…bitterly disputes stoppage to Cameron Vuong

I’D imagine Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards’ zen philosophy of peace and harmony has been tested after seeing his March 8 Midlands title fight with Ishmael Ellis go south.

The pair were to have met for the vacant light-welterweight belt at Wolverhampton’s Hangar venue on March 8.

But Ishmael gambled with a bout against former top amateur Cameron Vuong – a fight in which the odds were stacked against him – on Saturday’s big O2, Greenwich, show.

The gamble didn’t pay off. Birmingham’s former Midlands titleholder was stopped in the sixth of eight.

That means he’s suspended for 28 days and, therefore, out of the Hangar 10-rounder.

Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards…was to have faced Ellis on March 8

I’m sure Wolverhampton’s Osbourne-Edwards and his trainer Richie Carter – one of the nicest guys in the business – have their views on Ellis’ decision to face Vuong.

But Carter is a man who keeps his counsel. He doesn’t blow steam on social media.

Ellis bitterly disputes the stoppage to Vuong, who has now won four on the spin – three by stoppage, but the damage is done. He hopes the title fight with Osbourne-Edwards can be re-arranged.

“I don’t think it should’ve been stopped,” Ishmael told me. “I wasn’t hurt and the ref just stopped it. Seconds after the fight, the geezer he’s fighting next was in the ring.

“He (Vuong) is a good lad, very sharp, not massive power. This was his fourth fight – maybe eight fights in, I could say what he’ll achieve. It’s early doors for him.

“I had a bloody nose that looked worse than it was. He landed an uppercut and the ref said, ‘that’s it’.”

Of the scrapped Midlands title fight, Ellis said: “I asked the board if they could make an exception (to the 28 day ban rule) because I hadn’t gone down, but they said no.

“The best thing that could happen is that they get a new date so the fight can still go ahead.”