Lewisham light-heavyweight Dan Azeez’s bleak 2024 continues as controversial decision denies him two belts

Dan Azeez’s career looks to be at a major crossroads after he failed to land the vacant British and Commonwealth titles on Saturday night.

The Lewisham light-heavyweight was on the wrong end of a majority points decision against Southampton’s Lewis Edmondson at the Copper Box Arena.

The scoring was contentious with Edmondson penalised a point in the eighth round for hitting on the break.

Azeez was the aggressor in a fight that lacked any kind of change of tempo but two judges saw it 114-113 and 115-112 to his opponent with the other marking it 114-114.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of the final outcome, Azeez has endured a disappointing 2024.

In early 2023 he was in possession of the European, British and Commonwealth belts but vacated the former before a domestic defeat to Croydon’s Joshua Buatsi in February of this year.

Azeez then produced a listless performance when he drew with Hrvoje Sep at Selhurst Park in June.

At the age of 35, time is not on the side of the South Londoner (20-2-1).

Azeez’s promoter Ben Shalom said: “It was a very close fight. I know a lot of people online (were disputing the decision) but I thought Lewis did nick it.

“I’m gutted for Dan. Boxing is a cruel sport – it can pick you up or throw you down. He needs to come back and do some soul-searching.

“I wanted to give him another big opportunity and I’ll continue to support Dan Azeez.”

WBO world interim light-heavyweight champion Joshua Buatsi intends to stay active with Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol – the two main champions in the division – set for a rematch.

“I don’t want to sit around and not fight,” said Buatsi. “My aim is to fight early next year. We’re going to make a decision that is good for me.”

PICTURES: CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER