Ahmed upsets Khademi on the cards

With cancellations robbing the first Queensberry Promotions card of 2021 of both intriguing Jamel Herring-Carl Frampton and Anthony Cacace-Lyon Woodstock title fights, Birmingham’s Ijaz Ahmed filled the breach with an upset points win over East Ham’s previously unbeaten Kaisy Khademi in a competitive super-flyweight 10-rounder at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday night. Scores were 96-94, 96-95 and 95-95.

Ahmed (8-2, 0 KOs) started fast and his waves of aggression proved the difference as he punished Khademi for his low hands and porous defence. Afghanistan refugee Khademi (8-1, 2 KOs) had better movement and enjoyed positive spells, but was too often trapped on the ropes and lost momentum at crucial times. A defensive approach in the final round probably cost him the fight as Ahmed poured forward and seized the judges’ verdict.

Former Love Island star Tommy Fury (5-0, 4 KOs) was a predictable victor over Manchester’s Scott Williams (0-10, 0 KOs) in a featured light-heavyweight four-rounder. In a cynically-matched contest, Fury dropped Williams twice in the first with body shots before scoring a right-hand KO in the second. Fury faced better matchmaking on Love Island.

Stoke middle Nathan Heaney (11-0, 3 KOs) dropped Ashton-under-Lyne’s smaller Ryan Oliver in the fifth round with a left hook before settling for a comfortable 97-92 points victory on referee Bob William’s card in a decent 10-round scrap.

Exciting Maidstone lightweight Sam Noakes (5-0, 5 KOs) blitzed Nottingham’s previously unbeaten Delmar Thomas (5-1, 2 KOs) with an opening round salvo.

Buckhurst Hill featherweight Adan ‘The Pirate’ Mohamed (1-0, 0 KOs) won his debut with a clear 40-37 verdict from Marcus McDonnell over Evesham’s ever-resilient Brett Fidoe (13-65-5, 6 KOs). Mohamed boxed neatly on the move to secure the win.

Dewsbury super-lightweight Amaar ‘The Prodigy’ Akbar (1-0, 0 KOs) won 40-36 on referee Marcus McDonnell’s card but was given a solid test in his debut by Plymouth’s capable Chris Adaway (10-69-4, 1 KO). Akbar shrugged off a cut under his right eye in the first to seal the victory.

Islington 130-pounder Masood Abdulah (1-0, 1 KO) halted Oldham-based Zimbabwean Taka Bembere (1-17, 1 KOs) in two rounds in his first pro outing.

Main image: Queensberry Promotions.