FIVE wins, five knockouts, four different cities. That’s Adam Azim’s 2022 story.
And now, perhaps the most promising boxer in British boxing has been awarded a spot in a major British arena for the first time in his rising career.
Azim, just 20 years old, will face Santos “Starboy” Reyes, Nicaragua 12-0 (3) at Wembley Arena and anyone who bets against him prolonging the six-match stoppage time streak is certain to be out of pocket. .
Reyes has never played outside of his native Nicaragua but he will feel far from home once Azim takes control. The Slough man’s final outing was an impressive destruction ahead of Rylan Charlton in two rounds. The previous three came in the first round.
Azim is an overwhelming favorite – with Reyes as long as 14/1 with some oddball players – and for good reason. Boxer Shane McGuigan has demonstrated exquisite punch selection and real power despite his age.
In his five games in 2022, Azim played just nine minutes and 21 seconds, with four collaps in the first half and only Rylan Charlton, who was held up as a much-needed test, pulled. long into the second inning. He fell after those 41 seconds.
Reyes is the first undefeated opponent in Azim’s career but the class gap between the two will be very clear. And, as a man accustomed to winning throughout his 12-battle career so far, Reyes may not be adept at surviving. He can also go wild at times that will fall into the hands of Azim’s dynamite. The visitor doesn’t seem to see the three rings here.
It was also a big night for Zak Chelli, who has been out of the ring since June after a proposed match against Lerrone Richards in November fell through with Richards withdrawing that day citing illness after consider.
But Chelli was given the opportunity to make an honest statement here when he faced off against Anthony Sims Jnr, who was beaten by Indiana in more than 10 rounds. Chelli won the British super middleweight title when he beat Germaine Brown last time but he will have to give up on Sims.
“Richards was ranked 5th in the world so after it all happened, I just told them to find anyone for me,” says Chelli. “They looked at a few names in England, former British champions, they all turned it down. So I said ‘fine, call me someone from abroad’. They came with Sims and I said yes, I don’t even know who he is.”
The 23-1 American was once signed to Matchroom and was one of the stars in their US venture but he was beaten by Roamer Alexis Angulo in January 2020 and he rebuilt since then. He overcame a year of inactivity when he beat over eight-year-old Antonio Dodd in December, so he has some momentum behind him, plus much more experience than Cheli.
He added: “Sims might have had more fights than me but if you look at the innings he only hit eight more than me, because of course he stopped his opponent. I don’t think they’re as difficult in the US as they are in the UK.
“He is skillful but I can box and I can fight, I proved that in my last fight. I do both.”
No doubt, Chelli is improving with every game and he has won five games in a row since losing to Kody Davies on points and then drawing with Jack Cullen. But despite that, it’s hard to counter Sims here if he becomes balanced and focused. The possibility of winning points for the away team is very likely but with 20 wins from distance in a total of 23 games, the possibility of a late stop cannot be ruled out.
In the middleweight division, Tyler Denny placed his British title ahead of Brad Pauls in what could have been the fight of the night. Denny was last seen beating Brad Rea on points in November, followed by a match against River Wilson-Bent in Coventry five months earlier.
But “Newquay Bomb” Pauls is on 16-0 (9) and will be brimming with confidence after getting his career back on track over the past 14 months, the COVID Era hasn’t been kind to Pauls, who didn’t compete from November 2019 to October 2021 but he has won twice since. However, with his performance against Rea, Denny earned the point here as pick.
Elsewhere, lightweight Caroline Dubois will attempt to continue her serene progress as a professional athlete in a bout against Yamila Belen Abellaneda, Terri Harper’s former victim. The Argentinian was knocked out by over 10 years old by Harper in March and will cause stiffer opposition to Dubois than her eventual opponent, Sofia Rodriguez, who lasted exactly one minute.
Tottenham’s cruiser Viddal Riley is also back in action and will extend his 7-0 (4) record against Watford’s Anees Taj. After a two-year absence from the ring, Riley returned to great success last year with three wins and two snap wins in 2022. He will hope to be even busier this year, starting with Taj.
There are also matches for undefeated duo Jeamie Tshikeva (3-0) and Jordan Reynolds (4-0). The former takes on Harry Armstrong while at the time of writing there is no particular opponent for Luton’s favorite Reynolds.
Dan Azeez is expected to join the clash with France’s Thomas Faure for the vacant European light-heavyweight championship to add more appeal to the event. Unfortunately, that match was postponed when Azeez fell ill in January and had to delay preparations by several weeks.
