Marcel Braithwaite stops Ijaz Ahmed to claim British and Commonwealth titles
On Friday, October 20, at the Holiday Inn Birmingham, Liverpool's Marcel Braithwaite (16-3-1, 1KO) upset the home crowd when he stopped Ijaz 'Jazzy' Ahmed (10-3-3, 1KO) by knocking the local lad down twice, forcing referee Kevin Parker to stop the contest at 1:37 in the ninth round.
The 29-year-old Merseysider bombarded the Birmingham boxer with big left and right hooks until his hands touched down on the canvas again but he stayed upright, although that was enough for the official to call time on the contest. Ahmed was trying his utmost to survive but he was looking ragged and Marcel's big bombs were easily crashing through his guard.
This pair met in March this year, in Dudley, West Midlands, but couldn't be split after 12 close rounds, so the British and Commonwealth super-fly titles remained vacant, but Merseysider Marcel took that fight at just two weeks’ notice, then he captured the Commonwealth in his next fight with Ryan Farrag in Liverpool, winning by just one single point on all three judges scorecards.
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.
He chose the right time to score his very first stoppage in his career to now be crowned British champion on his third attempt. His first challenge was to Sunny Edwards way back in 2019, where he surprised the world with a flash knockdown in the seventh, which is the only time world champion Sunny has ever been down.
Braithwaite now has English, British and Commonwealth baubles in his trophy cabinet, perhaps European beckons next? The flyweight champion is Conor Butler, also from Liverpool, which would make for an exciting local derby.
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.”
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.
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