Adam Azim, Tyler Denny Triumph as European Champs Riakporhe Clinches Win
Great Britain celebrated the rise of two new European champions in an electric night of boxing at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England. The young junior welterweight Adam Azim, 21, showcased his skill and class, overpowering French southpaw Franck Petitjean in a compelling 12-round bout. Azim's precision and youthfulness proved too much for Petitjean, with Azim sealing victory by dropping his opponent with a body shot in the fifth round and securing another knockdown in the tenth, prompting Petitjean's corner to throw in the towel at 2:17 into the round. Despite a point deduction for a low blow in the ninth, Azim's dominance remained undeniable. "I’m feeling amazing," Azim expressed. "I had to chop the tree down and I did that. I could have gone another 15 rounds then." In another thrilling match, middleweight Tyler Denny, 32, of Rowley Regis, claimed his first professional knockout against Matteo Signani of Italy. The fight was halted in the eighth round due to a cut eye suffered by Signani, marking a significant milestone for Denny. The support of his hometown crowd seemed to invigorate Denny, who called out Chris Eubank Jr, expressing his readiness for any challenge. "Where’s Eubank Jr at? Come on, man. I’ll fight anybody!" Denny asserted. Meanwhile, cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe secured an early victory against Dylan Bregeon, knocking him out in the second round. Riakporhe, undefeated in 17 fights, displayed his prowess and determination after a 10-month hiatus from the ring. The Londoner emphasized his evolution under coach Angel Fernandez, signaling his readiness for a world title shot, possibly against Chris Billam-Smith, whom he defeated four years ago. Riakporhe reflected on his transformation and shift in mindset: "I’ve changed. My coach said, ‘you have everything to go to the top and dominate’. You’re going to see better and better opponents." His swift victory reaffirmed his aspirations for the pinnacle of the sport, signaling an exciting future for British boxing.
