Raza hits the jackpot with one punch KO win in Lahore debut
Winning team…Spencer Snr, manager Chris Glover, Raza, Spencer Jnr
BIRMINGHAM bomber Raza Hamza’s fight career has been brought back to life in Lahore.
It was salvaged from the scrapheap by a truly spectacular, one punch victory over Richmon Ashelley for the WBA Asia South lightweight title.
The Ghanian was rendered unconscious in the third round by one of the best left hooks slung this year. This was a true KO, with Ashelley out cold for the full count, but thankfully able to leave the ring under his own steam.
At 31, Raza, once tipped to be British boxing royalty, has become a punching prince in Pakistan.
The title may be new to this writer, the reward it brings – a world ranking – is real. And Pakistan based Falcon Sporting Promotions appear hell-bent on making Hamza a superstar in the land of his grandparents.
It’s a daring move. Hamza was pretty much written off over here after being blasted out in one round in an ill-fated challenge to British featherweight champ Nathaniel Collins.
Had he lost in Lahore last Thursday, his life as a fighter would’ve been beyond resuscitation. As a boxer, he would’ve been dead and buried.
He knew that. “My career was on the line today,” he told Boxing King Media after the dramatic victory. If I’d lost, then what?
“You know what it is, bro? You know and I know, I massively underachieved. 2018-2017, I was probably one of the most talked about prospects in England boxing. Inactivity, bad management, bad decisions in my career – I should’ve moved up (in weight) in 2021 and eventually it came to a stage when I was just making weight.
“Last year when I lost to Collins I was out – everyone said I was washed-up. I fought my last fight at lightweight, ripped my bicep and today I made history.”
Under trainers Spencer McCracken Snr and Jnr – both in the corner last week – Hamza has risen from the ashes of unfulfilled potential.
Before we get too carried away by a Cinderella story, it should be stressed Ashelley was expected to lose. He can evidently punch with 11 of 12 wins coming inside distance at a lower level.
He’s fallen short when stepping-up, had lost six before facing Hamza and been stopped twice.
Ashelley was what I expected: raw and defensively leaky. He rushed Hamza, flinging haymakers and paid the inevitable price. The Ghanian lurched after a heavy right, still kept coming and was poleaxed by that peach of a hook.
Hamza, however, has a point when he said: “I was meant to win, but was I meant to win like that? I should’ve beaten him, but not like that. No one knocked him out – I put him to sleep.
“My ancestors, my grandparents are all from this beautiful country. I am English, I was born in England, I’ve boxed my whole life in England. It’s just a proud moment for both countries, I’m hoping.”
He also hopes his against-the-odds “redemption” will inspire others.
Hamza added: “If I don’t go on and achieve anything bigger, all you young kids, all those who come from less privileged backgrounds who haven’t had much – if I can do this after everything I’ve been through anybody can do it.”
Raza – a man pretty much dismissed on the domestic front – is having the last laugh. The odds on him fighting for a world title have dramatically shortened.