23:20:02
Lewis Edmondson gets the win
And the new British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion. It was a hard watch at times, letโs be honest. The style clash was interesting.
I thought Azeez did enough to win it, but the main men decided otherwise. Victor Loughlin had it 114-114, Bob Williams went 114-113 and Mark Lyson 115-112 in favour of Edmondson.
It was a good night of action overall, courtesy of Boxxer and Sky Sports. Some enjoyable scraps, some under-par performances, a quality main event display and an upset at the end! Thanks for joining me.
23:07:04
Edmondson giving it a good go
โItโs a step into the unknown,โ says Andy Clarke about Lewis Edmondsonโs late-fight efforts. He has found a second wind as the rounds go by. Experience says that Azeez is supposed to be claiming these sessions and even though the jab is working well, the fight is still fairly open.
Both men hit the canvas in round 11 after some wrestling. One round to go. Azeez is probably ahead. Edmondson needs to go for broke and try and claim British honours.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
DAN AZEEZ. V. LEWIS EDMONDSON
22:54:35
Azeez takes a 10-8 round
The pattern of the rounds are merging into one as Azeez comes out applying pressure at the beginning. Edmondsonโs flicking shots were still finding a route to Azeezโs face, but quite how much they were taking out of Dan Azeez is questionable.
Referee Kevin Parker docked Edmondson a point in round eight as the infringements continued. Edmondsonโs right eye seems to be closing up, but the scorecard is opening up as Azeez gains a foothold.
22:45:35
Edmondson committing a little more
The feet are planted in round five as Edmondson lands some stronger right hands. Azeezโs jab is still finding a home, but for one so experienced, he is allowing the Southampton man to dictate the pace.
At the opening of round six, Kevin Parker is giving out another lecture. Edmondson takes it personally and throws a few extra shots for good measure. Halfway through the sixth, an Edmondson body shot is adjudged to be low and Azeez takes a minute. Edmondsonโs right hand to the body is finding the Azeez ribcage.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
DAN AZEEZ. V. LEWIS EDMONDSON
22:35:48
Azeezโs jab becoming a factor
Azeez finding his jab a bit more in the third round. He needs that to close the distance and upset Edmondsonโs long-range comfort zone.
Callum Simpson at ringside reckons Lewis is doing OK and expects the action to heat up a bit more as the rounds progress. Azeez, with new coach Martin Bowers in his corner, is bouncing on the feet to try and find a spark. Referee Kevin Parker is working hard to keep things honest.
22:29:12
Edmondson switching it up
Lewis Edmondson switch-hitting a lot. Even changing mid-combination. A touch of the Junior Witter at times. Dangerous game to play if Azeez can work him out.
Edmondson is not committing to much, but he does step off to the side and slip in a left hand off the back of a flicking right jab. Azeez trying to fire out the powerful left jab in response. He needs a faster tempo.
22:23:46
Azeez and Edmondson fighting for the British title
Dan Azeez and Lewis Edmondson are in the ring for the vacant British light-heavyweight title. Edmondson is a tricky customer and should give Azeez a few different looks early on. Has he got the gas tank to make a case late on? Thatโs what weโll find out.
22:08:06
Big fights are on the horizon for Azim, while Ohara Davies tempts retirement
The pair embrace and have a word with Sky Sports. A lot of respect between them. Ohara Davies speaks well, except for when he tells Azim that the Dalton Smith and Harlem Eubank fights can wait! But we’ll let him off with that.
โI had to be very switched on for him [Davies],โ said Azim. โI want to fight Dalton Smith next year. I want to fight Harlem Eubank next year.โ
Appearing to retire, Ohara Davies later stated: โAdamโs got a good jab, heโs got long arms. Adam will go far in the sport of boxing.โ
22:02:25
Azim stops Davies in round eight
Itโs round eight and Ohara Davies is dropped again, this time from a left hook at the end of an aggressive sequence. Referee Mark Lyson counts just as Barry Smith climbs up to the ring apron and waves the towel of defeat. The official time is recorded at 1-18 of the session.
Davies blinked, sniffed and shook his head at the end of a dissection. Azim was calm and composed all night. He controlled the pace and picked the moments of attack to perfection. A really good performance from the young man.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ADAM AZIM. V. OHARA DAVIES
21:57:21
Azim in full control
Fair play to Ohara Davies, who is hanging in there, tucking up and trying to turn the tide. Heโs had very minimal success all night, has a potentially broken nose and was dropped in round five. Apart from all that, heโs still there. The corner are yelling and raging. Meanwhile, Shane McGuigan remains a calm presence for Azim as we enter the eighth.
21:49:06
Ohara Davies is down for a count
A body shot drops Davies in round five and heโs in big trouble. โODโ tries to swing and duck his way through the round. The corner needs to be taking a look over their man, who is disconsolate, as well he might be.
21:46:56
Bloody Davies
Itโs warming up nicely here as Azim steps inside to let some heavy leather go. Davies has blood leaking from the nostrils. He smiles at the end of the round, while attempting a glove touch.
Speaking from ringside, Barry McGuigan likes what he is seeing and reckons Azim will get to Davies eventually. Ohara’s nose might be broken as the blood flows like a river.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ADAM AZIM. V. OHARA DAVIES
21:35:00
Eager Azim, the faster fighter
Hands low, bubbling with confidence, Azim is looking good so far. Much faster hands as well. Davies is having a look, gloves occasionally cupped, trying to adjust to the speed differential.
โDonโt get eager,โ Shane McGuigan tells Azim between rounds. Davies started the second round a little more square on, establishing the jab and closing the range. He lands a good shot as a result, before Azim takes over.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ADAM AZIM. V. OHARA DAVIES
21:29:58
Adam Azim and Ohara Davies in the ring
The main event is underway as Azim and Davies go at it for 12 rounds or less. Azim looked pumped as he jogged into the ring, ready to go.
Davies has long arms so is always dangerous, even when he seems to be out of range. A stocky, experienced puncher. Should be good this.
21:11:34
Anthony Yarde beats Vilcans on points
Yarde got on his jab, lowered the hands and let the solid single punches flow in the 10th and final round. The pair embrace at the end before referee Victor Loughlinโs scorecard.
98-92 to Yarde doesnโt tell the story, in all honesty. Yarde shed a significant amount of rust. It will be interesting to see how he looks in his next outing.
“Usually, when I hit someone, the fight’s done. I think the worst thing that can happen is me dropping him in the first round,” admitted Yarde.
Joshua Buatsi is ringside and Yarde told interviewer Andy Clarke he would fight anybody. He also namechecked Craig Richards and Dan Azeez.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ANTHONY YARDE. V. RALFS VILCANS
21:04:38
Round nine and Ralfs still in it
Yardeโs not looking great right now. Blowing hard, nose a little stuffy. Vilcansโ accuracy is playing out and his energy levels have been there in the most part as he throws ones and twos. Concerning for Yarde who is being outworked and leading the head a lot too.
20:56:07
Stubborn Vilcans display
Itโs been a rugged display from Ralfs who is still in there pitching. His shots are just a little laboured, but heโs managed to land them here and there.ย
Yarde is landing the left hooks to head and body well. The Yarde paw in the face has been a regular feature that referee Mr Loughlin has not yet picked up on.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ANTHONY YARDE. V. RALFS VILCANS
20:48:28
Yarde walking him down
Anthony Yarde has adopted a no-nonsense approach as he bullies the Latvian with good old-fashioned strength and persistence. Vilcans isnโt afraid to throw back, but his shots lack a bit of pop. The visitorโs uppercut is a nice, neat response. Good scrap going into round six as Conor Benn is spotted at ringside.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ANTHONY YARDE. V. RALFS VILCANS
20:40:42
Vilcans back in it
While he might not be winning too much of anything, Vilcans has settled down and got the jab working. His face is bruising up a little as Yarde tags the body.
Vilcans is stylistically a little like Padraig McCrory, dropping the hands and looking to sneak in some hard shots with both hands. Yarde smiles as round three ends.
20:32:58
Down goes Vilcans
About 15 seconds in and the Latvian is dropped by a right hand. Upright of stance, Vilcans got caught cold but he came back reasonably well (as in, he didnโt get hit flush again). Decent feeling out round for Yarde who remained patient.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
ANTHONY YARDE. V. RALFS VILCANS
20:29:28
Anthony Yarde in the ring
A new dawn for Yarde who takes on Ralfs Vilcans. Sounds like Yarde was introduced as the โBeast from the Eastโ there. He can certainly punch.
Vilcans might be dangerousโฆor he could be a standard Yarde opponent. Letโs find out.
20:14:21
Thulani Mbenge wins the IBO welterweight title
The scores are in and we have a NEW IBO king at 147. For the first time in almost three years, this shining trophy is proudly strapped around a fighter’s waist, and the South African recipient, who lost it previously to Sebastian Formella, thoroughly deserves his moment.
All three judges unanimously decided in favor of Mbenge, who won back his old belt by scores of 116-112 twice and 117-111.
โI thank McKinson heโs a gentleman, he chose me because nobody else wanted to fight me,โ said Mbenge.
20:02:25
McKinson needs to win the remaining rounds
77 per cent of viewers on the Boxing News app have Mbenge ahead as we slide into the championship rounds.
Some lovely body shots from Mbenge as McKinson tries to spear out the jab. His fanbase has quietened down as the pair exchange shots in the centre ring. Been a good honest scrap.
19:58:54
McKinson mauling his way through
It’s been a difficult old night so far for McKinson, who is shipping shots as the fight potentially slips through his gloves. โLovely!โ shouts Michael Ballingall, his father and coach, who read the riot act between rounds nine and 10.
Some bruising starting to form around McKinsonโs face and a little trickle of blood from somewhere. Heโs throwing more punches but is finding it hard to sustain any spells of momentum due to Mbengeโs consistent rhythm. The South African is cut across the left eyelid. Referee Howard Foster gave him a stern word in round 10 for an increasing number of infringements.ย
19:47:04
The pace favouring Mbenge
So says Matthew Macklin and I make him right. McKinson is doing well in spurts but it feels like the South African is fighting his kind of fight.
No rest for the wicked as Mbenge continues closing the range. All off the back of a decent left jab.
McKinsonโs own jab is absent, as he prefers to start attacks off with a right hook. Blowing out of the mouth a lot, as well as the workrate of Mbenge, takes its toll.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
MICHAEL MCKINSON. V. TULANI MBENGE
19:37:50
Gruelling affair
A deep gasp of breath from McKinson at the end of the fourth round. Itโs getting tough in here as Mbenge tags the body, much to the delight of his vocal corner. McKinson is responding in kind.
โThis is a gruelling fight already,โ says Sky commentator Andy Clarke.
McKinsonโs corner wants him to move the feet and stay out of range. Going to be a long night here, but McKinson has the quality edge. Can his gas tank match?
19:29:49
Mbenge trying to solve problems
Not noted as a puncher, McKinson buzzed Mbenge with an early left-right combination. Some great shots from awkward angles to kick off the 12-rounder.ย
First fight of 2024 for the Portsmouth southpaw, who does have form for starting fast (just ask Chris Kongo) and will seek greater activity if he can win the IBO welterweight title tonight. Early days, of course. Mbenge getting closer in the third round and landing a few heavier shots.
COPPERBOX,
STRATFORD
LONDON
PIC CHRIS DEAN/BOXXER
MICHAEL MCKINSON. V. TULANI MBENGE
19:16:00
Opening televised bout
Good evening everybody and a very warm welcome to the live blog. Steve on blog duty tonight. Thulani Mbenge is making his to the ring to box Michael Mckinson over 12 rounds in the Sky Sports opener.
What else has gone down already in the Copper Box? In an eliminator for the English heavyweight title, Jeamie Tshikeva stopped rival Franklin Ignatius at 2-32 of round six.
There was a shock earlier in the evening as Shannon Courtenay lost her comeback bout on points to Catherine Tacone Ramos. Sam Hickey got his pro career off to a positive start with a 40-36 win over John Henry Mosquera. Francesca Hennessy staved off a spirited effort from Ana Moraes, winning 78-74.
Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies: Live Updates & Results
It’s fight time in the Copper Box as ex-European 140-pound king Adam Azim continues the next stage of his career against former world-level operator Ohara Davies. Calm confidence versus outspoken bravado – who will prevail this evening?
Where can you watch Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies?
Sky Sports Mix from 7pm (BST) and Sky Sports Main Event from 8pm (BST). Ring walks are expected after 10pm (BST). The show streams live onย Peacock in the US from 2pm (ET)/ 11am (PT).
The preliminary live undercard bouts will be shown on YouTube from 5pm (BST) here:
Who is on the Adam Azim vs Ohara Davies undercard?
12 x 3 mins – super-lightweight
Adam Azim vs. Ohara Davies
12 x 3 mins – vacant IBO welterweight title
Michael McKinson vs. Thulani Mbenge
12 x 3 mins – vacant British light-heavyweight title
Dan Azeez vs. Lewis Edmondson
10 x 3 mins – light-heavyweight contest
Anthony Yarde vs. Ralfs Vilcans
10 x 3 mins – heavyweight contest
Jeamie Tshikeva vs. Franklin Ignatius
8 x 2 mins – bantamweight contest
Francesca Hennessy vs. Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes
6 x 2 mins – bantamweight contest
Shannon Courtenay vs. Catherine Tacone Ramos
4 x 3 mins – middleweight contest
Sam Hickey vs. John Henry Mosquera