After two draws, Ali gets a deserved win

Zain Ali forces Sam Kirk to the ropes. Picture: Inga Zulyte

PERSEVERANCE has paid off for likeable Birmingham middle Zain Ali.

On Sunday, the 26-year-old gained his first win at the third time of asking, dropping only one round against Doncaster’s Sam Kirk.

Referee Chris Dean scored the four rounder, on Anthony Manning’s Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, show, 39-37, which tallied with my card. I gave Kirk – still searching for victory after 11 contests (one draw), the second when he jabbed effectively.

Ali looked much improved from the fighter who laboured to two draws in his previous outings. In both, he flagged in later rounds: his debut, in particular, was a contest of two halves.

This time, he constantly switched from orthodox to southpaw, threw rights hands and kept up the pressure. In the early going, Kirk threw little back.

“Eight hard weeks of training paid off,” he said afterwards. I feel I’m stronger.”

At 11st 8lbs, Zain still looked like there were pounds that could be shed and is, I’m sure, capable of making light-middle, maybe even welter.

Against Kirk (11st 6lbs), he bossed the action from the get-go, jabbing well and slotting home solid rights.

Kirk kept things long in the second, connected with a short right in the third before taking a cluster of punches for his trouble.

Ali started the fourth behind his jab, clipped Kirk with a back-hand and both traded against the ropes in the dying seconds.

Zain positively beamed when the final bell sounded. That success has been a long time coming and he can begin 2025 with renewed ring confidence.