Light-welterweight contender Adam Azim passed his toughest test to date with an impressive eighth-round stoppage win over Ohara Davies at London’s Copper Box Arena.
The 22-year-old from Slough dropped Davies with a body shot in the fifth round.
Davies, 32, gallantly fought on but was floored again three rounds later as a left hook landed flush.
The contest was waved off by the referee before he noticed Davies’ corner frantically waving the towel.
“It was my best performance. I had to be very switched on for him,” Azim, now unbeaten in 12 pro fights, said.
Azim expects to face Harlem Eubank next and then settle a rivalry with Sheffield’s Dalton Smith in 2025.
The pair were ordered to fight for the European title but Azim vacated his belt, leading to a public spat between the two teams.
Davies, meanwhile, said it “might be the end” for his career, after a fourth defeat in 29 pro fights.
“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,” he added.
‘Rising star’ Azim shines in east London
Azim has long been touted by his team as a future world champion and was introduced as “one of boxing’s fastest rising stars” by the ring announcer.
With the 7,500 capacity arena in east London around two thirds full, Azim eased into the contest quickly with his hand speed, reflexes and a strong lead jab causing Davies problems.
Both men exchanged hurtful punches in the third as Shane McGuigan shouted orders to Azim. The trainer’s father, former world champion Barry McGuigan, was even more animated in the corner.
Despite blood pouring from his nose, Davies looked to be enjoying himself before Azim whipped in a right uppercut in the fourth to wipe the smile off his opponent’s face.
Azim really picked up the intensity in the fifth. He dropped Davies with a left and pumped his fist towards the direction of stablemate and cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith.
A backpedalling Davies helplessly looked towards his corner while Azim loaded up with chopping right hands.
Davies had boxed at a significantly higher level, with two of his three previous losses coming against undisputed champion Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.
He somewhat weathered the storm before Azim landed a solid right and followed it up with the left to score his ninth win inside the distance.
Yarde returns in tough points win
Light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde overcame Ralfs Vilcans in a tougher-than-expected points win in the chief support contest.
The 33-year-old dropped Vilcans with a right hand just 10 seconds into round one but the game Latvian recovered well to frustrate the two-time world title challenger.
Yarde, who spent nine months on the sidelines because of a “contractual dispute” with his long-time promoters Queensberry – was awarded a 98-92 decision by the referee.
“I’ll fight anybody,” Yarde said afterwards as long-term rival Joshua Buatsi watched on from ringside.
Also on the undercard, Lewis Edmondson won the British light-heavyweight title for a second time with a majority decision victory over former champion Dan Azeez.
Shannon Courtenay’s hopes of returning to glory did not go to plan, however, after the former bantamweight world champion was outpointed by Brazil’s Catherine Tacone Ramos after a 22-month layoff from the sport.
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