Eye injury ends Ijaz Commonwealth bid

Ijaz Ahmed…stopped in the 11th round. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

IJAZ Ahmed’s bid to become Commonwealth super-flyweight champ ended in injury defeat on Friday night.

At Edinburgh’s Portobello Town Hall, titleholder Matty McHale – fighting in his home city – prevailed in the 11th when Ijaz’ damaged right eye was considered too severe for the bout to continue. By then the injury was a clam of swollen flesh.

Bordesley Green’s Ahmed, a four time British title challenger, rolled the dice against a Scottish champ who has lost only one of 10 and came up short.

The chance he had pretty much slipped away when the eye began to balloon in the early rounds. The injury worsened with each session.

“I think it was the second,” the 32-year-old said. “I was getting this tingling feeling, I thought maybe the eye socket had gone. I was doing my utmost to protect the eye and having to keep away from what he was throwing.

“It threw my game plan out of the window. He was trying his best to see my off, but I was never going to give up, I was never going to lie on my back, I’m not built that way.

“I wanted to continue, I could’ve finished the fight, but the referee made the call.”

It was the correct call.

Of 29-year-old McHale, a former top amateur, Ijaz said: “He’s a good fighter and champion for a reason – a good, strong fighter.

“I don’t take anything away from him, he did his job. He did hit me low a few times and there were a few things he shouldn’t have done. But that was more the occasion and they were accidental. I don’t think he did them on purpose, there are no hard feelings. It was just unfortunate the way it happened.

“I was trying to get in with the big shots and caught him a few times, but it wasn’t enough.”

Ijaz, former IBF and WBO European champ, admitted he considered pulling down the curtain on an 18 bout career following defeat: “There are a lot questions and thoughts running through your head.”

Instead, the big decision will be put off until next summer when Ahmed’s licence is up for renewal.

He said: “If something does come up and I win it, there’s more of a story. Maybe coming down to flyweight could be a possibility.”

Ijaz added: “I just have to try my best as I always do. If it is meant to be, it will be. It’s God’s plan and I fully accept God’s plan whether that be me winning or losing.”