by James Slater – British light-heavyweight Ojay Abrahams of Watford, Hertfordshire in the south of England has had a quite amazing pro career as a boxer. Turning pro way back in April of 1997, Abrahams won a 4th round TKO over Paul King down at light-middleweight. Engaging in a further 99 bouts, Abrahams would only see his hand raised nineteen more times..
Becoming the ultimate journeyman/real-life Rocky story, the boxer born in December of 1964 fought a who’s who of notable fighters on the British scene. Ojay, always fearless, went in with top names such as; Wayne Alexander, Howard Eastman, Anthony Farnell, Ryan Rhodes, Jimmy Vincent, Carl Froch, David Starie, Matthew Macklin, Andrew Facey and Darren Barker. That’s some list.
His best win probably being the 2nd round TKO he scored against Lee Murtagh in May of 2001 – a fight in which Ojay won his only professional title, The English Masters light-middleweight title – Abrahams more often than not lost dozens of fights in a row. Always a tough operator, despite his poor winning percentage, he usually went the distance.
Of his 76 defeats (four draws), only 17 of them came inside schedule. Not only that, but Abrahams was always active, sometimes having over ten fights or more in a single twelve month period. That takes some doing, and going into last night’s fight against the 23-year-old Jamie Ambler, in what was the 43-year-old veteran’s 100th and final fight, Ojay was very much the subject of some overdue appreciation. Unfortunately, however, his 100th pro bout did not end in victory. Disqualified at the very end of the opening round for throwing a punch after the bell, Abrahams picked up defeat number 76 – instead of win number 21 as he had hoped.
This is bad news indeed. After all the dues he’s paid, after all the opponents’ backyards he’s fought in and after all the short-notice fights he’s taken for low pay, Ojay Abrahams deserved to at least go out a winner. Who knows, there may be a rematch between he and Ambler. Yes, last night’s bout was advertised as Abraham’s last, but no-one figured on a DQ occurring. Perhaps in his 101st fight, the 43-year-old will avenge last night’s disappointment?
The loss was also bad news for trainer Billy Graham. Graham, recently “let go” from the Ricky Hatton camp, was also having his final fight as a corner-man last night. He, along with Abrahams, had hoped to go out with a win.
What a shame, for both fighter and trainer.