Adam Azim (standing) seems over a fallen Ohara Davies in his Oct. 19 eighth spherical knockout at Copper Field Enviornment in Hackney Wick, London. Picture credit score: Chris Dean, BOXXER
A pivotal crossroads bout noticed one aspect advance, and the opposite name it a profession.
Adam Azim turned in a terrific efficiency in an eighth-round knockout of Ohara Davies. Azim scored two knockdowns, the latter which compelled the stoppage at 1:18 of spherical eight Saturday at Copper Field Enviornment in Hackney Wick, London.
The Sky Sports activities/Peacock+ foremost occasion, offered by BOXXER, noticed Azim, 22, work behind the jab early earlier than he ultimately unloaded his full arsenal. Davies, 32, threatened a struggle early earlier than he shortly tightened up his guard.
A extra aggressive second spherical noticed Davies attempt to unload his left hook. Azim made the defensive adjustment to keep away from getting caught by a fluke shot and continued along with his disciplined assault.
The appropriate hand started to circulation with better regularity within the third for Azim. His rising confidence within the weapon paved the best way to develop his left hook within the fourth as Davies shortly ran out of solutions.
Azim scored the primary knockdown on the night time halfway by means of the fifth spherical. A left hook caught Davies just under his proper elbow, which produced a delayed response knockdown. Davies beat the depend, however his nostril was already bloodied and effectively down on the playing cards to that time.
Motion continued because the struggle entered the second half of the competition. Davies refused to wilt however didn’t have something to maintain his youthful, unbeaten foe at bay.
Azim (12-0, 9 knockouts) discovered his house run shot within the eighth. A left hook upstairs compelled Davies to the touch his proper hand to the aspect of the top earlier than he went to the canvas. Referee Mark Lyson issued his depend earlier than Davies’ nook referred to as for the top of the bout.
It might additionally show to be his last time coming into the ring as a professional boxer.
“I’ve had my time within the sport of boxing ten years. This is perhaps the top of my boxing profession,” famous Davies (25-4, 18 KOs). “I nonetheless have my schools. This may the top of my profession and I’m honored it got here in opposition to Adam Azim.”
There’s quite a bit to love about Azim, who earned the most important win of his promising profession.
The Shane McGuigan-trained boxer wanted this second after a irritating 2024 marketing campaign. He noticed alternatives fall by means of for floated bouts versus countrymen Dalton Smith and Harlem Eubank. The latter bout was all however carried out for earlier this month, however a clerical difficulty precipitated BOXXER to lose out on the date.
All of it labored out ultimately.
“It was my finest efficiency,” insisted Azim, agreeing with the final consensus. “I needed to be switched on for [Davies]. He’s my good friend however he’s additionally a world title contender, very harmful. It’s unhappy as a result of we’re associates. It doesn’t matter what occurred in right here, I obtained a lot love for him.”
Davies—who was born in close by Hackney—has now misplaced two in a row.
He teased the potential for retirement previous to the struggle, which got here 9 months after a Jan. 6 1st spherical knockout to Ismael ‘Abuelo’ Barroso. Davies gained six in a row to that time, together with a ninth-round knockout of Lewis Ritson of their WBA title eliminator final March. It was sufficient to earn a shot on the interim WBA 140-pound belt, solely to go away Vegas empty-handed after the crushing defeat to Barroso.
Saturday’s loss left him resigned to pave the best way for the following technology.
“Adam is excellent,” acknowledged Davies. “He’s quite a bit higher than I assumed, quite a bit higher than I anticipated. Adam is gonna go far on this sport.”
For now, Azim will accept revisiting his current previous.
“I wish to struggle Dalton Smith subsequent yr,” insisted Azim. “I wish to struggle Harlem Eubanknext yr. However pay attention, [Davies] is more durable than all these [fighters] are.”
