In London, Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez faced off in the WBA light heavyweight final eliminator. Buatsi maintained his unbeaten record, moving to 18-0 with 13 KOs.
During the fight, Buatsi scored two knockdowns against Azeez; the first involved a partial slip, while the second also featured a solid hook alongside another partial slip. Later in the twelfth round, Buatsi unloaded a series of punches that had Azeez in serious trouble.
Azeez, whose record shifted to 20-1 following the bout, didn't go down easily. In the championship rounds, he showed heart by rallying and throwing a high volume of punches.
The judges scored the match 116-110, 117-109, and 117-109 in favor of Buatsi. Described as closely contested with plenty of give and take action, it showcased Buatsi landing more significant strikes while Azeez attempted to mount a comeback.
Buatsi's victory sees him continue to hold British and Commonwealth titles as he advances in his career. The fight was marked by energy and competitive spirit from both fighters throughout.
Epic toe-to-toe exchanges ????@dan_azeez is down ???????????????????? as @boxingbuatsi piles on the pressure ????#BuatsiAzeez | Tonight | OVO Arena, London | @SkySportsBoxing | @peacock pic.twitter.com/pwWOWkuvOl
— BOXXER (@boxxer) February 3, 2024