Adam Azim rose to the problem of Ohara Davies, placing the Londoner down twice as he gained in type inside eight rounds on the Copper Field Area in London.
Azim hit onerous dwelling photographs early. Within the first spherical he scored with a stunning one-two, a blaze of straight punches that Davies took on the chin and will need to have felt.
Davies smiled as he backed off, however certainly he was masking concern. Azim had began quick and was working with menacing intent.
His fast jabs had been catching Davies and Azim was dictating the motion.
Azim tagged him with a lead left hook, however Davies launched a hefty proper that caught his opponent. That backhand continued to threaten and Azim needed to weave away from it.
Their lengthy jabs battled for place and each unleashed photographs that introduced up gasps from the group.
They landed on one another to finish the third spherical. The 2 have recognized one another for years, since Azim was a baby. However their mutual respect did not forestall both from opening up with heavy artillery.
Azim cracked Davies together with his left hook within the fourth and lined that shot up once more. The smile returned to Davies’ face however Azim ignored it and shifted him to the aspect with a proper hook.
Azim hooked his left excellently off the jab and he completed the fourth spherical with a proper uppercut scything by means of.
The ability-punching was affecting Davies within the fifth spherical. Azim rocked him again, however Davies nonetheless popped a left hook in.
That did not deter Azim who, with a left to the physique, despatched his opponent to the canvas. With enormous punches to comply with that up, he smashed his proper down. Davies was firmly on the retreat, and in determined bother. His nook had a towel out, poised on the ring apron, contemplating pulling him out as he simply obtained by means of the spherical.
One way or the other Davies managed to smile on the bell, acknowledging Azim’s work.
The person from Slough was in full move although within the subsequent spherical, shrugging off one other defiant left hook from Davies.
Azim continued to topic him to punishment. Davies held on for one more spherical however Azim delivered a sensational end within the eighth.
A straight one-two arrange a clear left hook that smashed the Londoner to his knees at 1:18 of the eighth spherical. Davies couldn’t proceed from there, the referee waving it off even earlier than Davies’ nook workforce may pull him out.
“It was my best performance,” Azim mentioned afterwards. “I had to be very switched on for him.
“For the entire 13 weeks I have been coaching onerous. He is my buddy, however he is very harmful. He is a world title contender so I’ve obtained a lot love for him.”
Davies: This might be the end
“Adam will go far within the sport of boxing. I performed my factor, however you recognize what? It is time for the younger gun Adam to make his identify and be up there,” Davies said.
“I’ve had my time within the sport of boxing. I have been a professional for over 10 years now. I began boxing in Hackney and I believe this may be the tip of my boxing profession. I believe I would end my boxing profession in the identical borough of Hackney the place I began it.
“I feel like you have to know when your time is done. You don’t want to stay in this sport for too long and take too much.
“I am match. I’ve nonetheless obtained my colleges. I believe this may be the tip of my boxing profession and I am glad it was in opposition to Adam Azim.”
Dan Azeez fights Lewis Edmondson on the Copper Field Area in London tonight reside on Sky Sports activities+. Stream boxing and extra with NOW
