Lewisham’s Dan Azeez aiming to bring European light-heavyweight title back to South London

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Dan Azeez bids to become European light-heavyweight champion in Paris tomorrow night.

The Lewisham puncher already holds the British and Commonwealth belts and now intends to add the EBU strap to his collection.

Azeez is 18-0 in the professional ranks and was last in action in December when he halted Liverpool’s Rocky Fielding.

The 33-year-old is highly ranked by all of the major governing bodies and has been far more active than European champion Thomas Faure (21-4-1).

Faure has not boxed since winning the title by outpointing Kevin Thomas Cojean in January 2022.

His only stoppage loss came in November 2018 when he was halted in the seventh round by Eddy Lacrosse – then with an unremarkable 9-5-2 record – in a bout for the vacant French title.

Britain’s last European champion at the weight is Danny McIntosh, who won it in January 2011 only to be defeated in his first defence against Germany’s Eduard Gutknecht.

Azeez has had to graft his way on small hall shows before eventually being signed by BOXXER, who have the extra pulling power of their TV contract with Sky Sports. The broadcaster will televise this weekend’s card.

Azeez has spoken before of his desire to face the best domestically with a host of the division’s leading fighters all from these shores – South London rivals Joshua Buatsi and Craig Richards along with Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde.

Asked which of them posed the biggest challenge, Azeez said: “All of them are tough. That’s not me sitting on the fence, if I believed someone was way ahead then I would say so. I genuinely think they are all challenges.

“Everyone remembers the Nigel Benn-Chris Eubank fights and the ones with Michael Watson – that’s just three (British boxers who faced each other). Imagine getting all the names mentioned and doing the same – round-robins where everyone fights each other.

“It’s about legacy. People talk about the Super Six [World Boxing Classic] and I don’t think there were as many characters in that than the light-heavies now in Britain. Buatsi is a good character, he just hasn’t brought it out. Craig Richards is another South Londoner. I’d love to be a part of that (a tournament style approach).”

But first comes Faure at Zenith Paris, a multi-purpose indoor arena in the capital.

“I’ve been training hard and I feel this is the right step,” said Azeez. “I’ve been training since the beginning of the year. It’s all systems go, I’m going overseas and bringing the title back to London.

“I’ve seen bits of him (Faure) but it’s more about me making sure I turn up and that I’ve prepared correctly.”

It will be Azeez’s second fight since switching trainer to American Buddy McGirt.

“He has experience – he’s been there and done that,” said Azeez. “He has trained world champions before. It’s just refining me. He is not trying to change me, I am who I am. It’s just adding little touches so that when I do step up to world level contention that I’m ready.”

Asked if he believes he is world class, Azeez responded: “One hundred per cent. That’s where we’re heading. We’re taking the right steps and I’m passing every stage. This is another stage I’ve got to pass. If we pass that we are on to world level.”

PICTURES: LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER