Braithwaite Triumphs Over Ahmed at Holiday Inn, Birmingham

The narrative wasn’t about a miraculous fourth attempt for Ijaz Ahmed as Marcel Braithwaite conclusively shut the door on their rivalry, triumphing through a ninth-round TKO during their fiery British title rematch at Birmingham’s Holiday Inn this past Friday night.

Ahmed, known for his gutsy performances, stepped into the ring buoyed by a massive wave of local support. His journey, marked by controversial draw decisions in his earlier title fights, including two against Quaisie Khademi and a recent one against Braithwaite, added an emotional charge to the night.

Their initial fight was a strategic chess match, displaying their distinct fighting techniques: Ahmed, the relentless aggressor who commands the center of the ring with explosive bursts, and Braithwaite, the maestro of evasion, who fights back with sharp counterpunches and smooth left-right combos.

However, the rematch morphed into an all-out war. Both fighters landed hefty punches early on, with Braithwaite particularly effective with his left. As the fight progressed, he seemed to be inching ahead, despite repeated admonitions from referee Kevin Parker for hits behind the head — warnings that, frustratingly for the audience, never escalated into point deductions.

Undeterred, Ahmed maintained a rapid pace, landing more punches but absorbing stinging counters in return. The climax was both sudden and decisive: a heavy fall for Ahmed early in the ninth, a shaky rise, and a barrage from Braithwaite led the referee to intervene, a decision that left a sour taste for Ahmed, especially considering several of those final hits seemed questionably legal.

Braithwaite’s victory, clocked at one minute and thirty-seven seconds into the ninth round, was met with jubilation, particularly among his Liverpool fans. Now a holder of both the British and Commonwealth titles, his celebration was hard-earned and emphatic.

On the undercard, Hamzah Ahmed continued to build his growing reputation with a 40-36 win over Logan Paling, showcasing the speed and agility that make him a talked-about figure in the super featherweight division. Meanwhile, Ben Vaughan and Jimmy Cooper delivered an electrifying performance that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Despite an early injury, Vaughan powered through with a relentless assault, leading to Cooper’s corner conceding defeat.

Sian O’Toole kept her record spotless with a 60-54 win over Karina Szmalenberg, demonstrating skill and composure beyond her years. Tori-Ellis Willets, despite a tougher-than-expected fight against Ivanka Ivanova, showcased her superiority in a unanimous decision win.

In a less-than-ideal debut, Zain Ali had to be content with a 38-38 draw against George Rogers in a rather untidy affair. In contrast, Hamza Azeem continued his ascent, securing a fourth consecutive victory by dropping Liam Griffiths in the last round, further solidifying his status as a promising super middleweight.