Iain Dolan gives fight fans a report of last Saturday’s bouts from ringside
Rising light-welterweight star Adam Azim was forced to go the full ten rounds on Saturday night at the Wembley OVO arena, for the first time in his fledgeling career. The incredibly durable Santos Reyes looked ponderous and was down in the second round when a big right from Azim caught him on the top of the head. It looked as though another early night was in the offing but Reyes regrouped and proceeded to take everything Azim could throw at him. Azim seemed a bit out of ideas at times but these ten rounds will have done far more for his development than another five minute blowout. All three judges agreed on a shut out and with the knockdown, the scores read 100-89 on all three cards. Azim has a large following and all the ingredients are in place for him to be the star that Sky and Boxxer expect him to be and hopefully a fight with fellow prospect Dalton Smith can be made sooner rather than later.
The chief support bout saw an upset victory for Fulham’s Zak Chelli over the once touted Anthony Sims Jr at Super-Middleweight. Chelli was a deserving winner as he outworked and outmuscled Sims Jr for almost the entire fight. Sims Jr flattered to deceive somewhat as he always looked smooth and assured but for seven rounds just did very little as Chelli racked up rounds on the cards. At the start of the 8th, Sims Jr came roaring out of his corner, throwing bombs and had Chelli in a bit of bother, but it was his only success of note, Chelli weathered the storm and returned to business as usual in the 9th and 10th to take a UD win with scores of 98-92 twice and 99-92. I’m pleased for Chelli after the disappointment of the late cancellation v Lerone Richards. He’s proven that he’ll fight anybody and always turns up in good condition and gives it everything. Hopefully, off the back of this win, he can get a decent sized name as an opponent and decent sized cheque to accompany it. He deserves it.
Boxing Youtuber Vidal Riley notched another win by stopping the game Anees Taj. Riley couldn’t miss with a very sharp looking jab and it opened a nasty cut over Taj’s left eye within two rounds. Taj began swinging wildly as a result and had some success at the end of the 2nd but there was claret everywhere in the 3rd round and although Taj’s corner did their best to stem the flow, the ringside doctor had little choice but to advise an end to the fight.
Caroline Dubois despatched another opponent in quick time. Late replacement Feriche Mashaury earned her money but it was only ever a matter of when and not if. Annoyingly for those of us that had bet on rounds 1-2, the referee called the fight off a few seconds into the 3rd after Mashaury hadn’t fully recovered from a heavy knockdown in the 2nd (could have called it off then!). It can’t be easy finding opponents for Dubois as she’s so heavy handed but she’s going to need more of a test and sooner rather than later.
Tyler Denny and Brad Pauls put on a good scrap for the English Middleweight title. They fought at a good pace, always throwing leather but with Denny almost always getting the better of the exchanges. Pauls certainly played his part and can come again but Denny’s more accurate work earned him a 97-93 (twice) 98-93 unanimous decision victory.
Before the Sky broadcast began there was an entertaining heavyweight bout between Jeamie TKV and Harry Armstrong. Armstrong showed a surprisingly good gas tank for a man carrying quite a lot of weight but the busier TKV got the nod 77-75.
Sky/Boxxer had arranged a lovely tribute to Ron Lewis who passed away suddenly the night before the show. They left his media seat empty with a QPR shirt and scarf and a rose in a vase on the desk. This coupled with the warm round of applause as a mark of respect was fitting and a sign of how well thought of Ron Lewis was by everybody.
Photos: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer.
