Dan Azeez on why unified champion Artur Beterbiev is so hard to beat | Confirmed European title fight is next | boxing news
Dan Azeez, British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion, is enjoying the excitement his weight class is creating.
Azeez is a former partner of Artur Beterbiev and, from his training camp in Florida, was an interesting observer of the unity champion’s thrilling battle with Anthony Yarde last weekend.
“It’s head-to-toe, full of action, I think Yarde can really hold his head,” Azeez told The Toe2Toe audio file. “It was a really good fight.
“When [Yarde] lands good hits that he doesn’t try to jump on him. He clicked at the right time. He tried to let go of the accelerator at times when it was necessary,” Azeez continued.
“He was just defeated by someone better.”
From playing against Beterbiev, Azeez knew firsthand what made him so effective.
“The overhands and the body, those little things, there’s the little things that Beterbiev does. I don’t think a lot of people recognize him for his real boxing IQ because obviously he’s knocked everyone down,” he said.
“He has a very smart mind in it.
Azeez added: “In fencing, you’re going to throw one at him and you’re going to miss an inch, he has very good footwork. “He may look like he’s right-footed but he’s actually got very good footwork and he knows how to move around the ring.
“That’s the power of the punch, it makes you jittery and makes you expend more energy than you want because you know if I get too close I can get marked. If I make a mistake, I can get hit. so you’re thinking more than you want, so it’s hard.
“As you can see from watching him, when he does his shots, it doesn’t seem like he’s put too much into it. It’s deceiving but there’s power behind it.”
Azeez hopes to take on Thomas Faure for the next European title. “Should have just tried to confirm the date and place, that would be the next step,” he said.
South London colleague Joshua Buatsi, ranked as high with the WBA as Azeez, could be a future contender.
“Everyone is in their own part, the detour is the same [weight] it can happen,” Azeez said. “Anyone in the division could be a target.
“I’m ready for good fights, I’m ready for entertaining fights. So wait and see.”
He is confident that he will beat Buatsi. “I wouldn’t be in this game or train as hard as I am now, to do what I’m doing and achieve what I want to achieve if I didn’t believe it,” he said. “We can all meet.
“I’m sure you’ll pay to watch our games. They’re fun, entertaining and exciting.”