THE slight Scottish lilt in the accent, the wiry lightweight’s frame, the wristband that proudly displays the flags of both Kenya and Uganda; a quick snapshot of Ahmed Ibrahim’s life can be gathered in a matter of seconds.

The full story is naturally more complex. At the age of 27, Ibrahim is entering the peak years of his boxing career having taken a circuitous route to get to this point.

A former Muay Thai British champion and world championship quarter-finalist, the Knightswood-based fighter only took up boxing when he was 22.

“When I first started it was hard as any time an opponent got close to me I felt like throwing the knee,” he smiles, as he recollects starting out in a new discipline. Five years on and he is now happily part of the Kynoch Boxing fold, where he is both trained and managed by the eponymous Sam Kynoch at his gym in Kinning Park.

Ibrahim is set to face Glasgow’s Gary McGuire as part of a Burns Supper card at the Crowne Plaza hotel on Friday, before a rematch with Ryan Collins in March with the Celtic belt again up for grabs. When they last fought in October, Ibrahim won but hadn’t made the weight.

“I spoke to my nutritionist and they thought I must have eaten something with too much salt which caused it,” he said. “Collins’ trainer [Billy Nelson] made a comment about it on Twitter but I had tried to make the weight. I’ll definitely be sure to make it this time.”

Ibrahim arrived in Scotland from Uganda as a 10-year-old with his dad, stepmum and brother, without getting the chance to say goodbye to his mum. When his family then chose to relocate to Leicester, the teenage Ibrahim was placed with foster parents. It was as disorienting for a boy from Africa as it would be for a child from Drumchapel ­re-locating to Kenya.

“It was tough,” he admits, his sunny disposition temporarily disappearing. “My mum didn’t even know we were moving to Britain so that was hard at the time for her. When I first moved here it was a bit crazy. I didn’t know what was going on. But football always got me out of trouble. I’m a massive Man United fan. There were always fights and people getting stabbed and things like that. But I always got on with everyone because of football and I played all the time.”

He now makes an effort to return to Africa at least once a year.

“Last summer I was back in Kenya to see my mum, and also to Uganda to see my dad’s side of the family. It’s strange when I go back. They all seem to think I’m some sort of superstar as they follow what I’m doing on my Facebook. But I tell them I’ve not made it yet! I’m still trying. It would be nice to go back to Africa with a belt some time.”

Few back home had foreseen that this self-confessed “mummy’s boy” would end up becoming a professional boxer.

“I was never a fighter when I was young so my family were all shocked when I became a boxer. I was just a mummy’s boy who loved playing football.

“I tried to stay out of fights at school. Maybe because people knew I was doing Thai boxing! But that teaches you about discipline as well and to do it properly. Not fighting people in the streets or anything like that.”

Now it is all about life in the ring. He has given up his career as a joiner to focus on trying to make it as a professional, while teaching others how to box, too.

“I train a lot of kids from about five years old up and that can be good fun. It’s a really good feeling to see them progress and do well. It makes you feel proud.”

Even in adversity, there have been lessons learned. A defeat last year to Ohara Davies at Leeds

United’s Elland Road stadium on the undercard of the Lee Selby vs Josh Warrington world title fight gave Ibrahim a flavour of the big time.

“I’d never fought anyone as good as him before. He was the best by far. But it gave me a taste of what might lie ahead for me. That’s what I want, to return to that level.”

The accent tells you that Glasgow is undoubtedly home now. And the self-styled Black Assassin hopes it can be the base for an ascent through the boxing ranks.

“My family want me to move to Leicester as I’m the only one up here. But that’s not happening. Glasgow is my home. I’ve been living in Scotland for about 17 years now. It’s all I’ve really known and I like it here.

“I want to see my career progress as quickly as I can so I’m going to take any fights that I’m offered. I’ve always had that attitude. I’ve never shied away from fights. There are big opportunities in the lightweight division especially, and a lot of good fighters. So hopefully I can get my hands on the Celtic belt and take it from there.”