Dan Azeez, now 18-0 (12ko), successfully defended his British Light-Heavyweight title and added the Commonwealth title with a methodical and ultimately destructive performance against Rocky Fielding at the Bournemouth International Centre. The fight was made at the intersection of their respective career arcs and proved to be a little too late for Fielding, who now stares long and hard into the wilderness beyond professional boxing. It has been a good career, the Autumn of which sadly hindered by the pandemic.
33-year-old Azeez is refreshing both in the level of activity he boasts and in the humility of his outlook. Eager to pursue competitive fights, the late bloomer from London is now drawing attention and respect. American trainer Buddy McGirt has joined the team and evidently sees a fighter with polished fundamentals, a good attitude and prospects beyond British domestic level.
The fixture was strategic in the making and designed to platform Azeez and to decorate his resume with a known name, despite the pretext of Rocky Fielding’s decline, his performance remains a disappointment. Circumstances may be in play that are not in the public domain, but not only did he miss weight by a pound and opted not to try and lose it, he looked fleshy and lacking in self-belief throughout the fight.
There was a script. Azeez read his part and delivered a well-rounded performance. Fielding seemed to accept his supporting role too.
Azeez enhances his reputation. His work rate is impressive and despite being a relatively short fighter for the weight, he boxes in a compact stance, has outstanding head movement and has developed techniques for traversing the reach disadvantage he tends to box against. His jab was impressive too. Capitalising on Fielding’s habit of leaving his head high on the outside.
Despite that success, it was body shots that proved to be decisive. Azeez lands a plentiful number of them, such is his style, but Fielding’s apparent weakness to the body encouraged the focus too. A straight right in the seventh round removed the last of Fielding’s resistance but the shot came at the very end of the round. On the stool, Fielding was told he had one more round to rebalance the fight by trainer Jamie Moore. A man forging a career as a trainer and a particularly sound judge of a fighter’s remaining motivation and resilience.
Dan Azeez, a fighter with a naturally suffocating work-rate, dialled up the pressure in the eighth round. His 35-year-old opponent smiled the smile of a hurt fighter, the snap had long since left his punches and the end was nigh. A further, more rueful grin spread across his face as the white towel cart-wheeled past him and the referee intervened.
The end of the road for Fielding, the beginning of a higher one for Azeez. Someone risked a Marvin Hagler comparison. Whoever that was, he or she will not be the last person to reference the all-time great as ever more people get to see the likeable Londoner.
It’s more than just velvet shorts and high socks, Azeez can box too. At 33, there is a small window. But it will be enjoyable to watch.
BOXINGWRITER.CO.UK 
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