KO king Azim claims the European crown
Azim unleashes his left hook. Pictures: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer
SLOUGH’S heavy-handed Adam Azim is being groomed for very big things – and the fighter took a significant stride towards the world title he feels is his destiny by claiming the European super-lightweight belt.
But the 10th round stoppage over champion Franck Petitjean, a Frenchman who seemed wary of Azim’s power from the get go, underlined the fact there is still work to be done.
On Saturday’s Boxxer bill at The Halls, Wolverhampton, Azim spent too long looking for single shots before ending matters with a cluster of right uppercuts at two minutes 17 seconds of the session.
We cannot dwell on the negatives. The 21-year-old got the job done against a southpaw champion who skirted the ring and appeared reluctant to engage.
Azim (9st 13lbs 5oz) dropped him with a body shot in the fifth, suffered the indignation of having a point deducted for low blows in the ninth, then put his punches together to send Petitjean (10st) spilling in the following session. With the 35-year-old on one knee, referee Jon Llona Fernandez counted to five, then called off the one-sided affair.
Azim had solved the puzzle before him. “That was a learning fight for me,” he said. “I had to chop the tree down and eventually I did.”
He looked to land big rights from the opening bell as Petitjean circled. The champ’s head was snapped back by an uppercut in the third and he took a knee after a left hook thudded against his side in the fifth.
He attempted to turn the tide with three swinging left hooks in the seventh, but was not doing nearly enough to retain his crown.
Azim fought with added spite after being docked a point, and slammed rights hands to Petitjean’s body.
With the champ tiring, Azim had the time and space to put heavy punches together in bunches. And he ended matters in typically dramatic fashion, pinning Petitjean against the ropes and unleashing the final uppercuts.
Riakporhe hunts down outgunned Dylan Bregeon
“MIGHTY Train” Richard Riakporhe (14st 6lbs 5oz) wasted little time in derailing tall Dylan Bregeon from his senses,
After sizing up the tall Frenchman in the first of their scheduled eight rounder, the Walworth cruiser dumped him with a spectacular right in the second.
Bregeon (14st 7lbs 5oz) hit the canvas as if shot, but somehow scrambled to his feet. Another clumping right prompted the Frenchman’s corner to throw in the towel.
It was a statement by Riakporhe, ranked top contender for Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO belt. Bregeon has taken both Billam-Smith and Isaac Chamberlain the distance.