Keighley boxer Ibrahim Nadim wins first title in Manchester

He was fighting for the vacant Central Area Super Featherweight title against Adam Rasool at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, having only had around a month’s notice.

The bout was supposed to be between Rasool and Faraqat Ali, but the latter pulled out injured.

Ali had lost the previous Central Area title fight to Lewis Wood in July, but Wood had vacated the belt to pursue the English title, with that fight also taking place on Saturday night at Bowlers.

With Ali and Wood out of the picture, it was left to Steeton-born Nadim and Rasool to battle it out for the Central Area title at the weekend.

Nadim was immediately on the front foot after Rasool failed to make the required weight, meaning he could not claim the title even if won the bout.

But Nadim still had to get the win himself, as his opponent failing to make weight did not automatically hand the Keighley man the belt.

In the end, a dominant performance from Nadim ensured that did not matter.

The 25-year-old was superb from start to finish over the 10 rounds, scoring maximum points in all but one of them.

It meant referee Jamie Kirkpatrick scored the fight 99-92 in Nadim’s favour, giving him a comfortable points victory.

Trainers Blain Younis and Ricky Hatton with their protege Ibrahim Nadim and his manager Paul Speak after Saturday night's success. (Image: UGC.)

It takes the Keighley ace’s professional record to 13-1 and he may be in line to fight for the English Super Featherweight title next.

If that were the case, he would be taking on Josh Holmes, who beat Wood via technical knockout in the fourth round of their bout on Saturday.

Wood suffered swelling to his left eye after a brutal punch from Holmes, with the fight eventually halted after advice from the ringside doctor.

By claiming the English title, Holmes took his professional record to 16-0, so Nadim would have his work cut out if he was to be the man trying to take that crown off him in a few months’ time.