Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies round by round reports
Adam Azim steps up against world title contender Ohara Davies tonight in the capital, live on Sky Sports, and our reporter, Aqib Tahlat, is ringside with all the latest updates.
Anthony Yarde vs Ralfs Vilcans
1: Yarde knocks down Vilcans with his first punch, shaking of any ring rust over the past eight months. A right hand lands on the chin. Yarde jabbing well and looking dangerous on the counter. A 10-8 round for Yarde – perfect start for the ‘Beast from the East’.
2: Vilcans on the front foot regardless of being knockdown first round. Yarde landing a few strong jabs that snapped Vilcans head back. A tougher round to score as Vilcans landed a few before the round ended.
3: Another close round with Vulcans having success with a few combinations. Yarde landing some big shots however Vilcan took it and landed shots from his side. Very close round.
4: Vilcans again having a really good round with combinations and frustrating Yarde but Yarde landing a massive right hand at the end of the round which shook Vilcans.
5: Yarde landing huge shots. Definitely a convincing round for Yarde. Vulcans has been good in spots however doesn’t have the power to disturb Yarde. Round 6 Yarde will look. To take him out.
6: Yarde landing huge shots again but Vilans is very tough not only surviving but throwing some of his right hands and combinations. A Yarde round however Vilcans isn’t just standing there he’s making this a frustrating night for Yarde.
7: Another good round but Yarde taking control and definitely wants a stoppage.
8: Vilcans isn’t giving up. This has been a very good fight from Vilcans. Even though Yarde should win from here he has shown so much heart and potential.
9 & 10: A very good fight that Yarde landed huge shots and felt like he would be able to end the fight however Vilcans was very solid and showed great heart.
Yarde has done enough to get a decision however he will probably be slightly frustrated he wasn’t able to stop him.
The scorecards: 98-92 to Anthony Yarde.
Azim v Ohara
1: Adam Azim starting on the front with a great jab and really looking sharp. Landed a big right handed that landed. Ohara not throwing worried about the counter.
Adam Azim round 10-9.
2: A tough round to call both fighters throwing some big shots however not landing with significance. Ohara looked more confident in the second round.
3: Ohara Davis landing a few big hands and having more success with the jab as he’s getting closer to Adam which helped him land the right hand. Azim lands a crisp, ramrod jab in the final minute, a shot so perfect you could study it.
4: Adam Azim round. Very good technique from “The #Assassin”. Looked very compact and landed some great left hooks and right hand. 10-9 Adam.
5: Adam hurst Davies, then knocks him down with a swiping left hook to the right section of the body. Azim has hurt Davis and could have stopped him in that round. OD survives 10-8 Azim.
6: A quieter round compared to round five but Ohara Davis landing a left hook. Adam Azim looking very strong and controlling the fight however Davis sti dangerous.
7: Azim still looking strong and dangerous on the counter.
8: Azim lands with a huge left hook to the temple and ends the fight. Davis stayed down on one knee, but his corner made the decision for him, throwing in the towel and Adam Azim wins a TKO victory.
Dan Azeez vs Lewis Edmondson
1: Trained by Martin Bowers, Dan Azeez started on the front foot, trying to close the gap but the rangy Edmondson was able to keep the distance with his pawing lead hand. Even round to start proceedings.
2: Azeez finding it difficult to close the gap on Edmondson, who was working well at distance.
3: Azeez begun the third with a sharp jab landing on Edmondson’s forehead. He landed a duplicate of it 20 seconds later, then a third. He was so successful with it, he kept flicking out the jab up top. But Edmondson was able to land a few jabs straight through the middle of Dan’s guard.
4: Azeez playing cat and mouse with Southampton’s Edmondson, who holds a win over the Londoner in the amateurs. Edmondson holds his feet in this round, not backing up as much as the earlier rounds. Not much action to report so far.
5: Referee Victor Loughlin brought the pair together before allowing the round to start, talking to them for a good 15 seconds, but unclear as to what because there hasn’t been any foul play in what little action there’s been. It’s possible he instructed them to make more of a fight of it, as it’s been lukewarm up to now. They both upped the action in this round, putting more into their punches, so whatever the ref said, it worked. Edmondson landed a good right hand in the final 30, better round for him. Azeez still successful with the jab.
6: Referee Victor Loughlin gave them another 10-second talking to, still unclear why. Groves guessed that it was due to Edmondson landing after the bell. Azeez complains about a low blow, Edmondson very low with a left hook to the body, gets another long talking to. A good exchange followed. Edmondson landed a big right uppercut when backed up to the corner in the final minute. Azeez took the shot well, but it really was a big hit. These are hard rounds to score, but Edmondson manging to land the more eye-catching shots.
7: Azeez missing wildly with the right hand. Edmondson waving his lead hand frustratingly in Azeez’s face, who keeps swatting it away. Azeez still good with the jab, but he is working hard to make up the ground every round, whereas Edmondson is exuding less energy with his tactics. Edmondson switching stance, starts showboating by winding up his punches.
8: Nice left hook from Azeez as Edmondson gets caught on the ropes momentarily. Edmondson looking flashy with his hands hanging down low. Edmondson still getting caught by Azeez’s leaping jabs. Edmondson uses both arms to push Azeez down then hits after the break, so referee Loughlin rightfully deducts a point. The lack of warning means he must have told Edmondson off in his instructions earlier. Edmondson not conducting himself all that well here, but there’s so much at stake with the British and Commonwealth both on the line, and this is boxing.
9: Edmondson lands a big left hook, but Azeez just about took the sting out of it. Azeez has slowed, having worked so hard all fight to make up ground. Edmondson lands a big one-two, quite a clear round for him. Azeez missing with most of his attempts. Edmondson poised, waiting to counter and lands an exceptional right uppercut.
10: Edmondson looks like he’s in cruise control at times, just hanging his left arm low, waiting to counter, switching stances. George Groves at ringside believes Azeez to be sharper with the use of his feet, always too far out of range. Edmondson lands a bi left hook into the body and Azeez looked like he felt it, taking a couple of steps back. Another left hand lands low from Edmondson, Azeez didn’t complain or cease boxing, but the referee gave a warning. Edmondson still dancing around, keeping Azeez off his game plan.
11: Azeez lands a good jab to kick off the penultimate round, which he needs to win to make up the slight deficit on the cards. Edmondson boxing as a southpaw, then switches back to orthodox, then back again. Good straight right lands from Azeez. The Lewisham lad looks frustrated as they tangle up and tries to wrestle Edmondson away and they both end up on the canvas. Referee Victor Loughlin is annoyed by Edmondson and barks at him to “get up” and instructs him to “tidy it up”.
12: Azeez slips a jab then lands a right cross. The viewers verdict has Edmondson up by three rounds. It’s been Edmondson’s fight, fought at his pace and distance and Azeez hasn’t been able to get into a flow. One boxer looks frustrated and the other appears to be enjoying himself, which tells you all you need to know about who has won this contest, however Azeez does have that point deduction in his favour. Azeez still unable to get close enough to work, Edmondson boxing like a man who already knows he’s won.
Unbeaten Lewie Edmondson wins on a mixed decision with narrow scores of 115-112, 114-113, 114-114.