Daniel Azeez vs. Craig Richards

Twentieth of December at the Legon Sports Stadium in Accra. Ten rounds at light heavyweight.

Both of these Londoners are in their mid-thirties, and here sorely need a win. Each has at least one confidence-building victory buttressing them from a decision loss in an important match in 2024. Richards tried for the vacant WBC silver title but was defeated wide by Willy Hutchinson in June of that year, while Azeez dropped a MD to Lewis "The Saint" Edmondson for the vacant British & Commonwealth titles four months later.

Neither has ever been stopped professionally. Azeez has been down at least twice (against common opponent Buatsi) and to my knowledge Richards hasn't ever been put on the canvas. Both men have a KO rate of 63 percent with a remainder, along with very similar numbers of bouts fought and overall rounds boxed in their careers.

Common opponents include:

• Joshua Buatsi - defeated Richards via UD in the amateurs in 2014 and once more in the pros in 2022; defeated Azeez via UD in 2024.
  
  
• Adam Jones - lost by ref decision to Richards in 2016, and by ref decision to Azeez in 2018.
  
  
• Andre Sterling - lost to Richards via UD12 in 2019, and to Azeez via TKO9 in 2020.
  
  
• Shakan Pitters - lost to Richards via TKO9 in 2020, and to Azeez via UD12 in 2022.

 

Just reporting official results here.

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