Ijaz comes back with a new training team
Ahmed battles Braithwaite. Picture: MSN Images/BCB Promotions
IT’S all change for Ijaz Ahmed who has a new man in his corner ahead of his first fight since his vacant British title loss rematch against Marcel Braithwaite last October, writes PAUL WEBB.
The super-flyweight’s comeback bout will be on BCB Promotions “Second City Showdown” at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, on June 15.
It was the Birmingham 31-year-old’s fourth crack at the Lord Lonsdale belt following an unprecedented three draws on the spin, two against Quaise Khademi and one against Braithwaite.
Ahmed felt like he had done more than enough to get the judges’ decision in those and felt illegal blows behind the back of the head caused his second loss to Braithwaite, in which he was stopped in nine rounds. These controversial contests have left Ahmed with a sense of injustice, which has motivated him to keep going.
“I’ll be ready to show some new things,” said Ahmed. “It’s been a while since the Braithwaite fight and I wanted to be more active, but the time away has given me a chance to make some changes and refocus.
That change comes in the form of a new coaching team for fight number 17, with Birmingham trainer Spencer McCracken taking the reins after Ahmed spent many years at BCB’s Wednesbury gym.
“There are no hard feelings or bad vibes at all far from it,” he stressed “and I’m glad to be boxing back on a BCB show. I just needed a change after years of driving down the M6 to Wednesbury every day for training.
“I needed somewhere closer to home and I am very appreciative of everything the coaches there did for me. It’s a busy gym with a lot of talented boxers and I wanted something where I could get more one-on-one focus and get the best out of myself.”
The former Midlands champion has had some good nights boxing in his home city and will be part of a stacked card that features Cori Gibbs, Andrew Robinson, Ryan Woolridge, Hamza Azeem and James Griffiths. Ijaz is looking to put on a performance that will get him back in the title mix.
“One thing you can say about me is that every fight is exciting and I always put everything into it,” he added. “I feel like I have been denied the British title, first with the scoring and then with the illegal blow, and maybe now it’s time to go down a different path to winning a belt. I still feel strong at super flyweight and know I can win things there, but now all my focus is on getting the job done on June 15..”
*Tickets for Second City Showdown are available, priced at £40 standard and £80 VIP, from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.