Skip to content
Home » Boxing News: Ahmed vs Braithwates II / Ryan Woolridge

Boxing News: Ahmed vs Braithwates II / Ryan Woolridge

  • by
  • 4 min read

Six months will have passed since Ijaz Ahmed and Marcel Braithwaites controversial split decision draw and both men will be putting it all on the line for the second time on October 20th at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham for the British Super Flyweight Title.

Their first bout was a classic back and forth affair at the Dudley Town Hall, Brathwaite who took the fight on short notice started well, landing some solid left hooks in the third. The Liverpudlian was coming in off the back of a split decision win over Thomas Essomba and had been in with high quality operators like Sunny Edwards and Jay Harris.

Ahmed, who had twice previously challenged for the British title, grew into the contest, and finished strongly with his high work rate. The coveted Lord Lonsdale Belt often brings out the best in fighters and the home crowd were willing their charge on as they headed into the final rounds.

At the end of the 12 both men felt they had done enough but there was to be a horrible sense of deja vu for the 30-year-old Brummie, as his two previous title shots, both against Quaisie Khademi had ended in draws.

The three judges Mark Lyson (114-115 Braithwaite), Kevin Parker (114-114) and Terry O’Connor (117-11 Ahmed) couldn’t split them, so the belt once again remained vacant.

It was a frustrating end for both men but it showed what a tight knit contest it had been, this time Braithwaite will have had a full camp, but he will be up against a fiercely determined Ahmed who will be hoping the 4th time is a charm.

“I’ve felt hard done by on all three occasions, it’s very upsetting when you train so hard and put your body on the line only to have a draw given.

“I should have won it by now and a rematch shouldn’t even be on the cards, but we plan, God plans and ultimately, God is the best of planners so hopefully I get the nod this time”.

Ryan Woolridge

Ryan Woolridge is looking to make it a magnificent seven wins out of seven as a professional when he steps through the ropes October 1st at the H Suite in Birmingham.

Six months on from his last bout, a 59-56 points win against tricky Bulgarian Nikola Stoyanov the 22 year old feels he has adjusted well to the six round distance.

“I feel it suits my style as I come on strong and finish fights well so the extra rounds gives me a chance to show people watching what I am about”.

After a comfortable run of wins against opponents familiar to fans in the area like MJ Hall and Dwain Grant, Stoyanov presented a different challenge coming into the fight confident and looking to cause an upset.

“I’m normally very unserious at the weigh in head to heads and have a smile on my face but he told me that he is no journeyman and he had come to win so I had no doubt I had to take him seriously”.

The summer has seen Ryan keep very busy as he works as an electrician alongside his brother and balancing work and training is something he knows he has to keep on top of.

“Lately I have been training more in the evenings and getting my runs in at odd times but I get brilliant sparring and I know I will come into this one in great condition”.

The voice in the corner trainer Peter Hickenbottom has worked with Woolridge since he was thirteen and the two of them are very much in sync when it comes to the next step as potential title rumours surface

“I am still young and I have plenty of time on my side. We had a plan when I turned over and I need these building fights first, so when that chance comes I will be ready to take it. My coach is like a Dad to me and I wouldn’t want to be doing this with anyone else.

“I just want to learn the game, before jumping into anything, and I’ve got next year as a target for a title fight. There are some good lads around at my weight.”

Tickets for the rematch plus full under card are available, priced at £40 standard or £80 VIP ringside, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.