Jazzy Keeping Busy

Ijaz Ahmed reckons he will go one up on Kaisy Khademi by engaging in keep-busy action before resuming his chase for the British super flyweight title.

Ahmed goes again when BCB Promotions are at the Willows (Bath Street), in Willenhall, as part of a Sunday afternoon show on March 27.

He and Khademi have gone toe-to-toe twice before, with an Ahmed win followed by a split decision draw, the latter with the vacant British crown on the line.

Ahmed is still convinced that he deserved to have his land lifted, with one judge scoring it 115-113 in his favour and another going for Khaemi, 115-114. The third had it 114-114.

It was a different story the first time they met, for the WBO and IBF European bauble, where Ahmed prevailed by unanimous decision, through tallies of 96-94, 96-95 and a 95-95 draw.

The 28-year-old, from Birmingham, has also been a Midlands champion, outpointing Conar Blackshaw before successfully defending against Matt Windle.

Ahmed will now look to add to his nine wins, two defeats (to Harvey Horn and Brett Fidoe) and one draw, last stopping Alejandro Torres last December, in five, for his maiden TKO.

He said: “I would fight him (Khademi) now. I’m not putting it off, he is, but I can understand why he wants a tick-over first. This is my second warm-up, so I’ve got one over on him!

“That’s a positive for me, in keeping active before I put him to bed and, hopefully, put him to sleep. To be really truthful, it shouldn’t be happening – I beat him last time.

“I just want to close the chapter on that, get my hands on the British title and reach a higher level. I’m still the WBO and IBF European champion.

“I’m focussed on the future, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself and jump the gun. I’ve got this bout and then Ramadan afterwards.

“I’ll be keeping up with my fitness, as best I can, during Ramadan by keeping up with my running and making sure my weight stays down.

“I was very happy to get the stoppage, in my last performance, and I’d been working on that left hook to the body in the gym. Twice, it landed flush.

“The first time, he went down, got back up and the bell saved him, to end the fourth round, but he couldn’t recover when I dropped him again, in the fifth.

“I was a bit surprised, because he was a smaller guy and quite compact, but I know that I’m punching a lot harder, from the strength and conditioning work I’ve been doing.

“I’m making progress and becoming more dangerous than I was before. I’ve been training hard and I’m ready to put on a show.”

Tickets for the Willows bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.

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