The next chapter in the Adam Azim story comes from the OVO Arena, Wembley this Saturday evening, as the unbeaten knockout artist takes on Nicaraguan, Santos Reyes over a scheduled ten rounds at super lightweight.
Sky Sports televise live Azim vs Reyes in the UK, while Ben Shalom’s BOXXER promote.
Since winning all six rounds against Ed Harrison on debut in December 2020, Azim (7-0, 6 KOs) has scored a series of highlight reel finishes in six straight knockout wins and become one of the hottest young talents in British boxing.
The Slough native has steadily been stepping up in class, and in his last outing last November, Rylan Charlton was expected to give him rounds, but was blown away inside two, dropped three times in an emphatic win for ‘The Assassin’.
The 20-year-old now squares off against unknown quantity Reyes (12-0, 3 KOs), who is durable, but lacks real power.
His last two contests have been over a ten round distance, and ’Starboy’ has picked up the WBA Fedecentro title along the way, stopping Bryan Jimenez in the tenth and final round before defending on points last time out against Ricardo Cortez in December 2022.
Prediction: Azim is being manoeuvred into becoming the next big pay-per-view star, and his stock can rise further here with another stunning early knockout win.
Chelli clashes with Sims Jr
An intriguing ten rounder at super middleweight heads the undercard, where Zak Chelli meets Anthony Sims Jr.
Chelli (12-1-1, 6 KOs) is on a run of five straight wins since a 2019 loss to Kody Davies and a draw with Jack Cullen in August 2020, and he won a BOXXER tournament in the same year.
The 25-year-old picked up the English super middleweight title last time out, taking a points win against Germaine Brown.
Chelli has been out of the ring since that win over Brown in June after seeing a scheduled November meeting with Lerrone Richards cancelled.
Sims Jr (23-1, 20 KOs) has only lost once, via split decision to Roamer Alexis Angulo in January 2020, a former world title challenger who has only lost to the likes of Gilberto Ramirez, David Benavidez and Edgar Berlanga.
The American was last out in December, outscoring Antonio Todd over eight.
Prediction: I favour the visitor to score a late stoppage here.
Denny faces Pauls for English strap
Also over ten, the underrated Tyler Denny defends his English middleweight title for the second time against Torquay’s Brad Pauls.
Denny (15-2-3) won the vacant belt in a cracking rematch against River Wilson-Bent and defended in an upset points win against Brad Rea in November.
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Pauls (16-0, 9 KOs) has served as a Southern Area champion, and came through against Ryan Kelly via split decision in his last fight last May.
Prediction: Pauls can become the new champion on the cards.
Dubois meets Mashaury
Caroline Dubois (5-0, 4 KOs) is back in action, and the exciting lightweight can win inside the eight round distance against Tanzania’s Feriche Mashaury (10-7, 3 KOs), who has previously been halted in two by both Terri Harper and Chantelle Cameron and gone the distance in defeat to Natasha Jonas.
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Riley Returns
Cruiserweight prospect, Viddal Riley (7-0, KO4) can continue his unbeaten streak by stopping Anees Taj (7-2, 5 KOs) in their scheduled eight rounder.
Remaining Undercard
Heavyweight hope, Jeamie Tshikeva (3-0 2 KOs) can take out Harry Armstrong (5-0-1) inside schedule, also set for eight.
Adam Azim’s brother, Hassan Azim (5-0, 2 KOs) appears on this card, and the welterweight can outscore Abdallah Luanja (15-9-2, 10 KOs) over six, while big ticket seller Jordan Reynolds (4-0, 1 KO) can halt Mohamed Cherif Benchadi (4-20-2) in their super middleweight six rounder.
The sole four rounder is at featherweight, where Alireza Ghadiri (6-0) should take a points win against Hector Avila Lozano (1-1, 1 KO).
