FIVE wins, 5 knockouts, 4 totally different cities. That was the story of Adam Azim’s 2022.
And now most likely the most well liked prospect in British boxing has been rewarded with a headline slot at a serious British area for the primary time in his burgeoning profession.
Azim, nonetheless solely 20, will face Santos “Starboy” Reyes, the 12-0 (3) Nicaraguan at Wembley Arena and anybody betting in opposition to him extending his six-fight stoppage sizzling streak will certainly be ignored of pocket.
Reyes has by no means boxed exterior his native Nicaragua however he’ll really feel a good distance from house as soon as Azim assumes management. The Slough man’s final outing was a powerful two-round demolition of Rylan Charlton. The three earlier than that got here within the first spherical.
Azim is an awesome favorite – with Reyes so long as 14/1 with some oddsmakers – and for good cause. The Shane McGuigan fighter has proven beautiful punch choice and real energy that belies his age.
Over the course of his 5 fights in 2022, Azim was in motion for simply 9 minutes and 21 seconds, with 4 falling inside the primary spherical and solely Rylan Charlton, who had been held up as a much-needed take a look at, lasting into the second. He fell after 41 seconds of that.
Reyes is the primary undefeated opponent of Azim’s profession however the gulf at school between the pair can be evident. And, as a person who has grown accustomed to profitable over the course of his 12-fight profession to this point, Reyes might not be adept at surviving. He will also be wild at occasions which is able to play into Azim’s dynamite fingers. The customer is unlikely to see three rounds right here.
It can also be a giant evening for Zak Chelli, who has been out of the ring since June after his proposed struggle with Lerrone Richards in November fell via when Richards pulled out on the date citing an sickness after the weigh in.
But Chelli has been handed the chance to make a real assertion right here as he takes on Indiana’s once-beaten Anthony Sims Jnr over 10 rounds. Chelli claimed the English super-middleweight title when he beat Germaine Brown final trip however he may have his fingers full with Sims.
“Richards was ranked No.5 in the world so after that all happened I just told them to get me anyone,” Chelli mentioned. “They went through a few names in Britain, former British champions, they all turned it down. So I said ‘fine, get me someone from abroad’. They came along with Sims and I said yes, I didn’t even know who he was.”
The 23-1 American was as soon as contracted to Matchroom and was one of many stars of their USA enterprise however he was crushed by Roamer Alexis Angulo in January 2020 and he has been rebuilding ever since. He drew a line below a 12 months of inactivity when he beat Antonio Dodd over eight in December so has some momentum behind him, plus way more expertise than Chelli.
He added: “Sims might have had extra fights than me however when you take a look at the rounds he’s solely completed eight greater than, due to course he has stopped his opponents. I don’t suppose they’re as robust within the US as they’re within the UK.
“He’s skilful but I can box and I can fight, I proved that in my last fight. I do both.”
It is no doubt that Chelli is enhancing with each struggle and he has received 5 on the bounce since shedding to Kody Davies on factors after which drawing with Jack Cullen. But regardless of that, it’s laborious to choose in opposition to Sims right here if he turns up in form and targeted. A factors win for the customer appears probably however with 20 inside-distance wins out of 23, a late stoppage can’t be dominated out.
At middleweight, Tyler Denny places his English title on the road in opposition to Brad Pauls in what could possibly be struggle of the evening. Denny was final seen beating Brad Rea on factors in November which adopted on from his humdinger with River Wilson-Bent in Coventry 5 months earlier.
But the “Newquay Bomb” Pauls is 16-0 (9) and can be filled with confidence after getting his profession again on observe during the last 14 months, The COVID period was not variety to Pauls, who didn’t field between November 2019 and October 2021 however he has received twice since. Given his efficiency in opposition to Rea, nevertheless, Denny to win on factors right here is the decide.
Elsewhere, light-weight Caroline Dubois will try to proceed her serene development as knowledgeable in a step-up bout in opposition to former Terri Harper sufferer Yamila Belen Abellaneda. The Argentinean was outpointed by Harper over 10 in March and may present stiffer opposition to Dubois than her final opponent, Sofia Rodriguez, who lasted precisely a minute.
Tottenham cruiserweight Viddal Riley can also be again in motion and may prolong his 7-0 (4) file in model in opposition to Watford’s Anees Taj. Following a two-year hiatus from the ring, Riley returned with a bang final 12 months racking up three wins with two fast in 2022. He can be hoping to be even busier this 12 months, beginning with Taj.
There are additionally outings for undefeated duo Jeamie Tshikeva (3-0) and Jordan Reynolds (4-0). The former takes on Harry Armstrong whereas, on the time of writing, there was no specified opponent for Luton favorite Reynolds.
Dan Azeez was speculated to be on the invoice with a conflict in opposition to France’s Thomas Faure for the vacant European light-heavyweight title set so as to add additional intrigue to the occasion. Unfortunately, that bout needed to be postponed when Azeez fell unwell with the flu in January and put his preparation again by a number of weeks.
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