Ijaz Ahmed cause a mild upset by defeating the previously undefeated Kaisy Khademi via majority decision to take the Afghan’s WBO European Super Flyweight title, and also claim the vacant IBF European strap at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday.
Frank Warren’s latest BT Sport card was decimated by the rescheduling of the Jamel Herring vs Carl Frampton fight that was due to top the bill. Then at late notice, the replacement headliner, Anthony Cacace’s British Super Featherweight title defence against Lyon Woodstock had to be shelved due to Woodstock returning a positive Covid-19 test just two days away from fight night, thus elevating Khademi and Ahmed to main event status.
Both men made bright starts, with Ahmed’s cuffing punches and Khademi’s work at long range both catching the eye.
The contest was being fought at a frantic pace, and Ahmed landed a cracking right hand in the second that found the target.
Khademi (8-1, 2 KOs) was being lazy with his jab, allowing Ahmed (8-2) to steal a march on him, but as the pace dropped slightly in the third, the champion increased in confidence and started to land with shots of his own.
Ahmed’s constant pressure though was forcing the 26-year-old out of his comfort zone, and as a result was unable to display his best work, but was still flashy in patches.
A lot of the scoring of the bout was down to what you preferred, the busyness of the challenger or the punch picking of Khademi and both were having their successes.
Down the stretch, the fight was up for grabs, and Khademi controlled the action in rounds eight and nine, making ‘Jazzy’ miss a lot more than before, as his switch hitting became more effective while he made a bid to bank much-needed points to ensure victory.
The final round was a busy one, with the duo giving it their all to secure the win as the bout went to the scorecards.
A score of 95-95 was overruled by scores of 96-94 and 96-95 to confirm the win for Ahmed.
Fury lands another knockout win
Tommy Fury improved to 5-0 (4 KOs) with a second round stoppage win over the limited Scott Williams at Light Heavyweight.
Williams (0-10) was dropped to the body in the first half of the opening round, and was down for a second time shortly after, with another body shot sunk in by Fury causing the damage.
The end wasn’t much longer in coming, when a well-timed right hand over the top felled Williams for a third and final time, and the fight was waved off.
Heaney overcomes Oliver
Nathan Heaney made a successful full debut under the Frank Warren banner with a wide points win over Ryan Oliver, who looked a weight division or two below the Super Middleweight limit that the contest was arranged at.
Heaney (11-0, 3 KOs) dropped Oliver (7-3, 1 KO) at the end of the fifth with a sweetly timed counter left, and the Stoke ticket seller was dominating the action in the main, reflected in the 97-92 scorecard returned by referee Bob Williams at the end of the fight.
Debutants all successful
There were three debutants on the bill and the trio all made winning starts.
Amaar Akbar (1-0) made his professional bow, and he took every round of four in his Super Lightweight win over Chris Adaway (10-69-4, 1 KO), while at Super Bantamweight, Adan Mohamed (1-0) overcame Brett Fidoe (13-65-5, 6 KOs) via a 40-37 scorecard.
Islington Super Featherweight Masood Abdulah (1-0, 1 KO) began life in the paid ranks with a second round stoppage of Taka Bembere (1-17, 1 KO).
Noakes blasts out Thomas
Undefeated Maidstone Lightweight, Sam Noakes impressed on the card, taking less than two minutes to move to 5-0 with as many knockouts, with a first round stoppage of Nottingham’s Delmar Thomas (5-1, 2 KOs), who had won his first five bouts prior to this scheduled six rounder.
