London – Unbeaten featherweight Masood Abdulah (10-0, 7 KO’s) has been crying out for a quality, ambitious opponent to step up to the mark and provide him with a challenge. Tonight, he took on 2016 Olympian Qais Ashfaq (12-3, 5 KO’s).
Having been outpointed by Marc Leach in 2020 and then losing a vacant British super featherweight title fight to Liam Dillon last July, Ashfaq was desperate for a meaningful win himself but will need to reevaluate his career after being manhandled by the heavy handed Londoner.
The two quickly settled into their roles. The all-action Abdulah pressed the action whilst Ashfaq got on the back foot and used his southpaw skills to box his way into the fight. He looked relaxed but he was made to work hard from the opening bell by Abdulah who looked to make things rough and physical up close. In the second he picked up a warning for pushing Ashfaq over with his knee after the man from Leeds was bundled to the canvas and was clearly the stronger man.
Just when it looked like Abdulah was beginning to bully Ashfaq, he walked directly into a perfectly timed right hook in the third. Abdulah’s legs turned to wood but he stayed upright and continued to walk forward. Ashfaq could land shots as Abdulah pressed on but it was taking a severe toll on him and he manhandled to the canvas twice more in an eventful round.
Abdulah was unfortunate not to be awarded a knockdown in the fourth when Ashfaq again sank to the canvas after absorbing a combination as he drifted to the ropes and although he picked the occasional clean counter, Ashfaq just didn’t have the weight or volume of punch to keep Abdulah off.
Finally, in the fifth, Abdulah finished a combination with a right uppercut and Ashfaq went down. Two more knockdowns – both courtesy of clean, arcing right hands – brought the end and the fight was waved off at the moment Ashfaq’s corner threw in the towel. The time was 2.02 of the fifth round.
Abdulah retains his Commonwealth silver featherweight title.