FIVE wins, 5 knockouts, 4 completely different cities. That was the story of Adam Azim’s 2022.
And now most likely the most popular prospect in British boxing has been rewarded with a headline slot at a serious British enviornment for the primary time in his burgeoning profession.
Azim, nonetheless solely 20, will face Santos “Starboy” Reyes, the 12-0 (3) Nicaraguan at Wembley Area and anybody betting towards him extending his six-fight stoppage sizzling streak will certainly be overlooked of pocket.
Reyes has by no means boxed outdoors his native Nicaragua however he’ll really feel a great distance from dwelling 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 shall be evident. And, as a person who has grown accustomed to profitable over the course of his 12-fight profession so far, Reyes is probably not adept at surviving. He may also be wild at instances which can play into Azim’s dynamite fingers. The customer is unlikely to see three rounds right here.
It’s also a giant night time for Zak Chelli, who has been out of the ring since June after his proposed struggle with Lerrone Richards in November fell by means of when Richards pulled out on the date citing an sickness after the weigh in.
However 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 day out however he can have his fingers full with Sims.
“Richards was ranked No.5 on this planet so after that every one occurred I simply instructed them to get me anybody,” Chelli stated. “They went by means of a couple of names in Britain, former British champions, all of them turned it down. So I stated ‘high-quality, get me somebody from overseas’. They got here together with Sims and I stated sure, 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 yr of inactivity when he beat Antonio Dodd over eight in December so has some momentum behind him, plus much more expertise than Chelli.
He added: “Sims might have had extra fights than me however in case you have a look at the rounds he’s solely completed eight greater than, due to course he has stopped his opponents. I don’t assume they’re as robust within the US as they’re within the UK.
“He’s skilful however I can field and I can struggle, I proved that in my final struggle. I do each.”
It’s doubtless that Chelli is enhancing with each struggle and he has gained 5 on the bounce since shedding to Kody Davies on factors after which drawing with Jack Cullen. However regardless of that, it’s arduous to select towards Sims right here if he turns up in form and targeted. A factors win for the customer appears almost definitely 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 towards Brad Pauls in what may very well be struggle of the night time. 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.
However the “Newquay Bomb” Pauls is 16-0 (9) and shall be filled with confidence after getting his profession again on monitor over the past 14 months, The COVID period was not sort to Pauls, who didn’t field between November 2019 and October 2021 however he has gained twice since. Given his efficiency towards Rea, nonetheless, Denny to win on factors right here is the decide.
Elsewhere, light-weight Caroline Dubois will try to proceed her serene development as an expert in a step-up bout towards 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 be again in motion and may lengthen his 7-0 (4) document in model towards Watford’s Anees Taj. Following a two-year hiatus from the ring, Riley returned with a bang final yr racking up three wins with two fast in 2022. He shall be hoping to be even busier this yr, beginning with Taj.
There are additionally outings for undefeated duo Jeamie Tshikeva (3-0) and Jordan Reynolds (4-0). The previous takes on Harry Armstrong whereas, on the time of writing, there was no specified opponent for Luton favorite Reynolds.
Dan Azeez was alleged to be on the invoice with a conflict towards France’s Thomas Faure for the vacant European light-heavyweight title set so as to add additional intrigue to the occasion. Sadly, that bout needed to be postponed when Azeez fell sick with the flu in January and put his preparation again by a couple of weeks.