Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies – Results & Post-Fight Report

Adam Azim further enhanced his credentials at the Copper Box Arena, as he took out Ohara Davies in the eighth round of their super lightweight contest set for twelve.

Azim (12-0, KO9) came into this one as European champion, having stopped Franck Petitjean in ten rounds, and he was last seen defending that belt, halting Enock Poulsen in five, Davies (25-4, KO18) belatedly received a world title shot in January against Ismael Barroso, but the Venezuelan caught Davies cold, scoring a stoppage win inside two minutes for the WBA title, and this was seen as a last chance saloon for the Londoner.

Azim pretty much dictated the fight, landing with eye-catching combinations in the opening round, and staying out of trouble to earn a handy early lead. Azim rammed home that advantage in the fifth, with a left hook to the body having Davies on the deck, and this then forced Davies onto the retreat, his corner poised to throw the towel in towards the end of the frame. It was pretty much survival mode for Davies, but his resistance ended in the eighth, when Azim uncorked an one-two that had Davies on his haunches, where he sat the full count out to hand Azim the win.

Lewis Edmondson (10-0, KO3) captured the vacant British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles, as he took an upset majority verdict against former champion Dan Azeez (20-2-1, KO13). It was a tight fight, and in the end the more unproven Edmondson took home the titles, with a 114-114 tally overruled by scores of 114-113 and 115-112 in favour of the Southampton man, as he took home the belts.

Anthony Yarde (26-3, KO24) appeared on a Boxxer card here, and after dropping Ralfs Vilcans (17-2, KO7) in the opening round of their light heavyweight contest, he then eventually had to work hard for a points win over ten rounds. Yarde had the Latvian down within the first ten seconds, but would be forced to earn a win on the cards, as he was adjudged to be a 98-92 winner.

South Africa’s Tulani Mbenge (21-2, KO15) became the new IBO welterweight champion, as he took the vacant title with a points win against Michael McKinson (26-2, KO4). The visitor took a clear win by two scores of 116-112, and a third at 117-111.

A heavyweight ten rounder saw Jeamie TKV (7-1, KO4) take a win via stippage in the sixth round against Franklin Ignatius (6-1-1, KO1). The ending was a facile one, as TKV unloaded a few punches that Ignatius looked like he dealt with, but the referee saw differently, and waved the fight off.

The sole eight rounder came at bantamweight, where Fran Hennessy (5-0, KO1) took a 78-74 win over Brazil’s Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes (5-1, KO2).

The only six rounder featured former world champion Shannon Courtenay (8-3, KO3), and she saw her career lie in tatters after a comeback after nearly two years away, as she dropped a points verdict against Catherine Tacone Ramos (5-3-1, KO0), who ran out a 58-56 winner.

Middleweight debutant Sam Hickey (1-0, KO0) won all four rounds against John Henry Mosquera (5-19, KO1).