Marcel Braithwaite: “Everyone that’s won British at my weight has gone on to a world title”
Fight Academy’s Marcel Braithwaite is looking for even bigger fights after writing himself into the history books by becoming the new British Super Flyweight Champion.
‘The Chosen One’ lived up to his moniker on October 20, when he travelled to the Birmingham backyard of Ijaz Ahmed and beat the Brummie in nine rounds to claim the vacant domestic crown with a performance that will have plenty of people sitting up and taking notice.
The pair had previously battled to a split-decision draw for the same title in March, a fight that Marcel took at just two weeks’ notice. This time around, Braithwaite had promised that – with a full camp behind him – he’d come out on top, and the 29-year-old more than lived up to his word by becoming the first man to stop Ahmed.
After turning pro in 2016 and with just three defeats in 20 outings – two of those coming to world level fighters in Sunny Edwards and Jay Harris – the likeable Liverpudlian is now at the top of the British game and eager to test himself at an even higher level.
Speaking about the fight, Marcel said: “I stuck to the game plan to move around and my movement and footwork was a level above his. I was making him miss, frustrating him, and letting him become more eager.
“That was the first half of the fight and then I asked if I could go forward and apply pressure. As soon as I did, the fight changed and I was getting to him with body shots. He’s known as being resilient, so stopping him was quite a statement.
“I’m over the moon at becoming British champ, because it’s something I’ve looked forward to experiencing since I was a kid. I always believed I would, and have worked towards it. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, so to finally embrace it is really special. I’m made up.
“This has been a great year. I’ve been in two fight-of-the-year contenders, I’ve won the Commonwealth Title, and went to Ijaz’s backyard to win the British. These are the kinds of things you dream of.
“I’ll sit down with my team [about the next move] but what I will say is that everyone that’s won British at my weight has gone on to a world title, so things are exciting! It’s only up from here.”
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