Dan Azeez delivered a one-sided performance in his most significant title fight to date.
The unbeaten Brit collected the European (EBU) light heavyweight title following a twelfth-round stoppage of France’s Thomas Faure. No knockdowns were scored in the contest, but Faure was battered throughout and was deemed unfit to continue at 0:50 of round twelve in their ESPN+/Canal+/Sky Sports televised co-feature Saturday evening at Zenith de Paris-La Villette in Paris, France.
Azeez worked behind the jab to start the contest, the weapon used to quickly close the gap and neutralize the significant height and reach advantage boasted by Faure. Steady jabs and straight right hands down the middle drew blood from the nose of Faure in round two, though he was able to occasionally connect with long left hands when fighting out of a southpaw stance.
Heavy pressure was applied by Azeez in a dominant round three. Faure’s nose continued to gush blood but pushed through the aggressiveness of the unbeaten 33-year-old Londoner and rallied late with clean power shots through the guard late in round four.
The brief shift in tide drew a minor tongue lashing from James ‘Buddy’ McGirt, Azeez’s Hall of Fame trainer who reminded his charge that he was too talented to get caught in his opponent’s fight.
Azeez opened his offense in round five, stalking a reluctant Faure who used every inch of the ring to avoid the incoming. Azeez continued to apply pressure and enjoyed his best round of the fight in the sixth, rocking Faure with a booming overhand right. Faure staggered to the ropes where Azeez followed up with his attack but was unable to close the show.
Time was called at the start of round seven, as the ringside physician was summoned by the referee to examine Faure’s wounds. Action was permitted to proceed, though Azeez remained the aggressor while Faure boxed in reverse through the first two minutes. Azeez pumped his jab and also landed occasional lead right hands though Faure tightened up his defense enough to avoid the most telling shots.
Faure drew a rise out the crowd after crashing home a right hook inside the final minute of round nine. Azeez was largely in control to that point but walked directly into the punch. He closed out the round with combinations, though not as much power behind them as was the case earlier in the contest.
Azeez returned to basics in round ten. The visiting prospect repeatedly landed his right uppercut. Faure took the shots well but was unable to effectively respond. Azeez snapped back the head of Faure with straight right hands down the middle, dodging counters on each occasion.
Blood was splattered across the face of Faure in round eleven, though he bravely pushed forward in determination to go the distance. His wish was not granted, however. Azeez dialed up the pressure in the twelfth and final round. One right hand too many found its way home, prompting the referee to stop the one-sided affair. The call was feverishly protested by Faure (21-5-1, 2KOs) and his corner, though falling on deaf ears.
The fight was originally due to take place on February 11. However, Azeez was forced to withdraw after coming down with the flu. The one-month delay was worth the wait, as Azeez advanced to 19-0 (13KOs) and carried the momentum gained from an eighth-round knockout of former secondary super middleweight titlist Rocky Fiellding last December 17 in Bournemouth, England.
Headlining the show, 2016 Olympic Gold medalist Tony Yoka (11-1, 9KOs) faces former heavyweight title challenger Carlos Takam (39-7-1, 28KOs). Yoka aims to rebound from his first career defeat, having not fought since a ten-round points loss to Martin Bakole last May 14 in his Paris hometown.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
