Triple title chance for the McCracken gym
Ijaz Ahmed…Commonwealth fight in Scotland. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB
BIG title action is looming for Birmingham’s busy McCracken’s gym, fronted by father and son Spencer Senior – an excellent pro back in the day – and Junior.
Former British title challenger Ijaz Ahmed – he fought for a Lonsdale Belt four times, drawing three – gets a crack at another major honour on November 21.
The 32-year-old faces Commonwealth super-flyweight champ Matt McHale at St Andrew’s Sporting Club, Edinburgh.
Six days later former British featherweight challenger Raza Hamza is in Lahore, Pakistan, to face Ghana’s Richman Ashelley. At stake is the ABA south Asia lightweight belt.
Fledgling light-heavy Chris King makes it a triple title opportunity for the McCrackens. He’ll face champ Dave Butlin for the Midlands crown, though a date and venue has yet to be announced.
Hamza’s resurrection after a disastrous attempt take the Lonsdale Belt – he was stopped in one round by Nathaniel Collins in 2023 – is the most remarkable.
The 33-year-old has squeezed in only one routine six round win since that set-back – and that was over a year ago – yet has clinched a dream deal with Asian outfit Falcon Promotions.
What’s more, his bout in Lahore looks very winnable. Ghanaian Ashelley can evidently bang a bit, with 11 of his 12 wins coming inside distance, but has faced modest opposition. He’s lost six and is on a two fight losing streak.
Raza Hamza with Spencer McCracken Senior and Junior
Of the Falcon deal, Raza told me: “This is major, this is backed by the government there. It can change my life if I win my next few fights. The aim is to become the face of boxing in Pakistan. I can talk and I can fight.”
Ijaz, now 32, has returned to top flight very early on the comeback trail. He was out for two years after being stopped by Marcel Braithwaite for the British super-fly title – a defeat “Jazzy” felt was unjust - and returned last month with a rust-removing points win over Jake Pollard.
He’s travelling to 29-year-old McHale’s home city for the opportunity – and is up against a champ with firepower. Six of the Scot’s eight wins have come early and last time out he scored a fine fifth round stoppage over Midlands champ Sean Bruce for the Commonwealth belt.
McHale’s only loss has come against top Liverpool prospect Brandon Daord in February.
Ijaz, from Bordesley Green, believes he should’ve won all his four British title bouts and in interview the bitterness seeps out.
He said: “Everyone of those fights I won – the last one I lost because the guy hit me on the back of the head.
“I felt very hard-done-by in every one of those fights. I accept what is written for me will happen and that was what was written to happen. It is what it is, I have to accept it, but I’m only human, it does hurt. You ask, why me? What have I done to be so hard-done-by?”
Away from home, in another country against a champ boxing in his home city, Ahmed can expect few favours.
Will he again be crying injustice?