Kaisy Khademi vs Jackson Chauke fight analysis
Kabul-born Londoner Quaise Khademi (10-1-2, 4KO) takes on seasoned South African Jackson Chauke (23-3-2, KO) for the vacant IBO World flyweight title at the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green, England, on January 27.
The WBM-Neilson Boxing card also features heavyweight action as Everton Red Triangle prospect Boma Brown (2-0, 1KO) looks for win no.3 on the undercard.
The 11-fight card will be the first event of the year to take place at the famous York Hall of 2024, which will play host to around 40 boxing events this year. And the main event will see the first world title in contention in the UK so far this year. The green and gold IBO belt on display was once held by four-weight world champion, Nonito Donaire, who is one of only six boxers to hold world championships over three consecutive decades: the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s*.
The headliners will be evenly matched despite the visitor having double the wins of the local fighter.
From South Africa, Jackson Van Tonter Chauke enjoyed an extensive amateur career that saw him win silver medals at the All-Africa Games and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, losing in the final to Brit boxer, Don Broadhurst. He also competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2007 World Championships.
He turned pro straight after the Olympics in October 2008 and reached 11 fights unbeaten before losing in his first title challenge by unanimous decision. He bounced back strongly to score eight consecutive knockouts, picking up two regional titles before claiming the South African flyweight championship on his second attempt. Then he won WBC International and WBO Global belts in fights 21 and 22.
At 38-years-old Chauke is the reigning South African and ABU African flyweight champion. Heavy-handed, he has scored 15 KOs from 23 victories, resulting in a respectable 65% KO ratio, but fortunately for Kaisy, he hasn’t registered any knockouts in any of his previous six contests. However, he has lost just once in his last 15 contests, spanning over 10 years.
29-year-old Londoner, Kaisy Khademi, will be heavily supported on the night in his adopted hometown. He came to England at the age of eight, after fleeing from the Taliban in Kabul, hiding in a back of a truck with his family to find refuge here. He made Walthamstow his home but didn’t become a British citizen until nine years after his arrival.
And now he has made the York Hall his home, about to appear within the hallowed walls there for a ninth time.
He earned his shot at the title by winning the IBO Inter-Continental super-flyweight title against Benn Norman in July 2023, then defending it successfully to Selemani Bangaiza, both times via early stoppages at the York Hall. He dropped Norman twice in round three, and Bangaiza once in each round to end matters in the second.
Khademi is sharp, twitchy, reactive out-boxer, who counters very well with left and right hooks. He bounces on his toes, dipping in and out like an amateur.
Down at the lower weights, the fights are higher-paced, so Kaisy can be caught when fighting on the inside due to the speed the 112-pounders perform at. Due to his preference of fighting on the outside, he can land with such long shots that they have an instantly damaging effect on his foes, and being caught by a long right hand can lead to one-punch knockdowns. It’s also his movement that causes such destructiveness, when he bobs and rolls under then comes up with his huge hooks, he can stun foes in an instant. And as soon as he sees a reaction, he kills the fight dead soon after.
His trilogy with Ijaz Ahmed – which ended with one loss and two draws – were such high-octane, non-stop punch-ups, each fight better than the last. At least one judge in all three fights scored a draw, so they couldn’t be split by one official in all three meetings.
Chauke, known as “M3”, is an incredibly well-rounded, experienced boxer. He likes to come forward on the front foot and fight at mid-range. He can box on the inside and outside, on the front foot and back foot. He’s very adept at closing the gap when he wants to put pressure on his opposers. He likes to hold his guard up high and tight, and has an exceptional defence, which shows in his record – only two losses and no knockouts over 28 bouts and 15 years. He is a patient boxer and despite often being taller than his opponents, he isn’t a big target to hit on, because he tucks up tight so well.
There’s very little doubt that the African will be the one going forward in this fight, which will suit both boxers and make for a great stylistic matchup.
Khademi’s best gameplan will be to land his shots on the outside and to move away quickly. Chauke is good counter-puncher, especially with the overhand right, so Khademi can’t hang around after he’s thrown his combinations. Kaisy should also throw his shots often enough to upset Jackson’s rhythm. When the visitor bobs and weaves his way in, just a quick jab and pivot away to frustrate his flow would work wonders.
As the fight wears on into the later rounds, if it reaches that far, which it likely will, Chauke will become more pressurised and aggressive and it could become a carbon copy of the fights Khademi had with Ijaz Ahmed – cat and mouse.
Khademi’s keys to victory are to stay on the outside, outpunch his rival and keep on the move. However, it’s likely he’ll be required to do this for a full 12 rounds, which is always a hard, draining task, especially against such a wily, seasoned, skilled opponent, whose had 10 12-round contests compared to Kaisy’s two.
Predictions
This is a 50-50 fight for me. I think Kaisy is going to be put under some heavy pressure, especially as the fight lingers on, but the experience fighting three times with Ijaz Ahmed should be perfect preparation for this bout, as I believe it could ebb and flow in a very similar way.
The Brit has to be at his very best, he can’t afford to switch off for a single second, and has to keep up a high pace and energy for a full 36 minutes. He has back to back knockouts, but I can’t see Chauke getting stopped, personally.
I am going to side with Kaisy Khademi to win on points, but I won’t be surprised if Jackson Chauke upsets the odds either by knockout or decision. This could be my heart overruling my head, though!
The IBO flyweight strap up for grabs celebrates its 30-year anniversary this year, first conquered in December 1994 by Canadian Scotty Olson. The prestigious belt was once held by Belfast boxer, Damaen Kelly, but has never been won by a Brit, so Afghan-British boxer Khademi could make history on the 27th day of the year.
*The six champions over three different decades are: Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Nonito Donaire.