Lewisham’s Dan Azeez told he needs a break after collecting Commonwealth crown
Promoter Ben Shalom has told Dan Azeez he needs a rest after the Lewisham light-heavyweight stopped Rocky Fielding to notch up his 18th career victory.
The unbeaten 33-year-old gradually chipped away at his Liverpudlian opponent until their corner threw in the towel to prompt referee Kevin Parker’s intervention at Bournemouth International Centre.
Fielding’s coach Jamie Moore had told his fighter at the end of the seventh that he was giving the former WBA world super-middleweight champion one more round to try and turn the tide of the contest. But Azeez, relentless in his pressure and workrate, was unabating with his attacks.
It looked a compassionate and sensible call by Moore to spare Fielding (30-3) further punishment.
Azeez collected the Commonwealth title vacated by Anthony Yarde and also made a second successful defence of his British title, needing one more to win a Lonsdale belt outright. The South Londoner’s post-fight interview showed his desire to keep busy under promotional company BOXXER.
“I would like to get on the January 21 card,” said Azeez. “I weighed in my career lightest because I’ve just been in the gym since the Shakan Pitters fight [in September].
“I went out to LA and trained my arse off [under trainer Buddy McGirt] and then had this fight. I feel good man, I really do.”
Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur, formerly Commonwealth king, has been mooted as an option in 2023.
“For sure,” said Azeez. “If Ben can make that happen, I’m aware he has made offers and it has been turned down. I would love to have that fight.
“I’m in this sport to fight good fighters. I don’t just want to fight anybody. I want fights where people think I can lose and there is a chance that I could win.”
But Shalom appeared keen to apply the brakes.
“There is not a harder-working fighter on the British circuit,” he said. “He needs a break.
“I’m so happy for him. I think he’s still living in the same flat as when I met him because he wants to keep that hunger.
“He is now showing his levels. It will be a massive, massive 2023. There are some big names in the light-heavyweight division and he is right up there now.
“I want him to win the European title. I want him to win every title – Southern Area, English, British, Commonwealth, European. Wow, what a story that would be next.”
Azeez looked to have seriously buzzed Fielding in the sixth with a couple of crunching left hands.
There was also plenty of attention paid to landing shots to the body.
“He was tough,” said Azeez. “I thought I might get him out of there a bit earlier but he showed his experience. Even when I tried to blast him out, he knew how to tuck up and come back.”
Greenwich’s Caroline Dubois moved her record to 5-0 with a first-round win over Sofia Rodriguez (5-8) on the same show.
The Olympian needed just two minutes to force referee Chas Coakley to rescue the Argentinean, who was stopped for the first time in her career.
PICTURES: LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER