At the Legon Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana, Craig Richards knocked down Dan Azeez in the 12th minute.vol round to win the vacant IBF International featherlight heavyweight title.
Richards (20-4-1, 13 KO) comes into this fight off his eighth win over Padraig McCrory in March in Belfast, while Azeez (22-3-1, 14 KO) has won twice since loss of majority decision to Lewis Edmondson last October, winning twice at a modest level, the last time in October in Nigeria.
The first round was tight with Richards nullifying his jab, but a demanding left to the body leveled things up for Azeez before ‘Spider’ re-attached his jab and regained control in the third round.
The 35-year-old’s straight right hand stunned Azeez tardy in the fourth period, but the Lewisham man counterattacked well, landing heavier punches as the fight reached its halfway point.
Richards started to pick up the pace, winning several rounds, and Azeez was clearly breathing heavily between rounds, landing some powerful shots in round eight.
Richards scored a huge KO of Azeez. Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom
“Spider” was starting to pull away thanks to his excellent work rate, winning round after round and going into the final round it looked like Azeez needed a knockout to emerge victorious.
However, it was Richards who scored the equalizer as a left hook hit the net in the final frame, knocking Azeez down, and the referee waved his hand and stopped the fight.
In the second 12-round fight, Theophilous Kpakpo Allotey won the vacant WBO Global super flyweight title after a fierce points fight with Jayr Raquinel (18-3-1, 14 KO).
Scores of 119-109, 118-111 and 116-112 allowed Allotey (13-0, 10 KO) to return home with the belt.
Ibrahima Diallo won the vacant IBF International super welterweight title in the only 10-round fight, defeating Sampson Segbedzi (10-1, 7 KO) by decision.
Two scores of 99-90 and the third of 98-91 ensured Diallo (13-0-2, 2 KO) was crowned champion.
Featherlight heavyweight prospect Jonathan Tetteh (11-0, 10 KO) defeated Freezy Macbones (11-1, 10 KO) on points, and Sedem Ama (5-0, 2 KO) won in the second round against Chiamaka Nwaturuocha (3-1, 3 KO).
The only fighter to go six rounds was in the welterweight division, where Nishant Dev (5-0, 3 KO) defeated Ally Mbukwa (8-6, 2 KO) in the fourth round of the match, and in the only four-round fight, Leo Atang (3-0, 3 KO) needed less than 90 seconds to defeat Babu Yusuf (3-1, 1 KO) in the heavyweight division.
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Jaron Ennis is the bookmakers’ main favorite to defeat Xander Zayas in their highly anticipated world title clash on Saturday in Brooklyn.
Ennis challenges Zayas for the WBO and WBA super welterweight belts at the Barclays Center live on DAZN pay-per-view.
The undefeated resident of Philadelphia enters the game as the favorite on February 11 Bet365 give the 23-year-old his first professional defeat and become world champion in two weight categories.
“Boots” has stopped 31 of his 35 opponents, including Uisma Lima in his 154-pound debut in October, and is expected to stop the Puerto Rican on 20/21.
The 28-year-old last covered this distance in 2024, and a decision victory is valued at 13/2.
Zayas and Ennis face to face before the clash. Photo: Matchroom Boxing
Even though Zayas has taken over as unified champion, he is an underdog Bet365 at 15/04.
Man from San Juan defeated Abass Baraou by split decision will add the WBA belt to his WBO crown in January and his best chance of victory is rated at 13/2 by decision, while success in the shock break is rated at 14/1.
Jaron Ennis knocked out Uisma Lima in the first round in Philadelphia. Photo: Emma Brawley/Matchroom Boxing
Full Bet365 odds
The result of the fight
Xander Zayas will win the fight: 15/4
Xander Zayas by KO/TKO/DQ: 14/1
Xander Zayas by decision or technical decision: 13/2
Jaron Ennis will win the fight: 11/02
Jaron Ennis by KO/TKO/DQ: 20/21
Jaron Ennis by decision or technical: 8/5
Draw or technical draw: 14/1
Round bets
Xander Zayas
Win in round 1: 100/1
Win in round 2: 100/1
Win in round 3: 100/1
Win in round 4: 100/1
Win in round 5: 100/1
To win in round 6: 100/1
To win in round 7: 80/1
To win in round 8: 80/1
To win round 9: 66/1
To win in round 10: 66/1
To win round 11: 66/1
To win in round 12: 80/1
To win by decision or technical decision: 6/1
Zayas won by points decision over Abass Baraou. Source: Mikey Williams / top position
Jaron Ennis
To win round 1: 80/1
Win in round 2: 50/1
Win in round 3: 40/1
To win in round 4: 28/1
To win in round 5: 20/1
To win in round 6: 16/1
Win in round 7: 12/12
To win in round 8: 1/11
To win in round 9: 10/1
To win in round 10: 10/1
To win in round 11: 10/1
To win in round 12: 1/11
Win by Decision or Technical Decision: 7/4
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On Wednesday, Lewis Crocker heads to Australia to defend his IBF welterweight world title against Liam Paro for the first time.
Crocker will face Paro at the Pat Rafter Arena in Queensland, live on DAZN in the UK and Kayo Sports in Australia.
Crocker (22-0, 11 KO) became world champion in September, defeating Paddy Donovan twice before winning the rematch by split decision.
Man from Belfast recorded his second victory over Donovan after the first victory in March last year, and his rival was disqualified for hitting him after the bell.
Paro (27-1, 16 KO) is trying to become a world champion in two weight categories, having previously reigned in the super-lightweight division.
In September, Donovan was beaten a second time by Crocker. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
The 30-year-old won the title with a unanimous decision victory over Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico before winning the belt in his first defense against Richardson Hitchins.
The Australian has since won twice, overtaking David Papot in his last appearance in September.
Paro looks like a two-time IBF champion. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom
McKean meets Taliva
Heavyweight Demsey McKean will look to continue his rebuild when he faces Liam Talivaa for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title.
McKean (24-2, 16 KO) had his career cut miniature after a last-round loss to Filip Hrgovic, followed by a brutal first-round loss to Moses Itauma.
The 35-year-old southpaw returned to winning ways with back-to-back stoppage victories.
Talivaa (8-2, 4 KO) last won the IBF Oceania-Orient title, defeating Faiga Opelu by first-round stoppage.
Undercard remaining
At cruiserweight, Luke Modini (13-0, 11 KO) will likely need distance to beat Peng Qu (17-2-1, 12 KO), while Riley Candy (8-1, 5 KO) could stop Nathan Watson (11-3, 3 KO) at super middleweight.
Vegas Larfield (13-1, 9 KO) can hand Shamal Ram Anuj (11-8, 8 KO) his fourth defeat in a row in a featherweight clash.
Heavyweight Nelson Asofa-Solomon (2-0, 2 KO) can secure a third straight knockout over debutant George Burgess, and Stevan Ivic (8-0-1, 2 KO) can do the same against Caleb Tialu (3-7, 3 KO), also a heavyweight.
Prospective super welterweight fighter Jack Javed (1-0) should overtake Lance McDonald (1-5-1, 1 KO).
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