Adam Azim drops and dominates Santos Reyes but goes 10 rounds for first time in his career | Boxing News

Adam Azim went 10 rounds for the first time in his career, but ended up with a dominant win over Nicaragua’s Santos Reyes.

Azim won the shutout, 100-89 for all three judges, after putting Reyes down in the second round and controlling the contest throughout.

Azim has established himself as one of the most exciting prospects in British boxing as he brought style, speed and a venomous punch to winning streak of seven knockouts leading up to the fight with Nicaragua’s Reyes.

But in this match, he took on an undefeated opponent for the first time in his professional career.

“Starboy” Reyes raised his arm as he entered. Bouncing from foot to foot in the corner as the announcement was made, the Nicaraguan looked calm. Azim, in contrast, walked from side to side, eager to get a job with the crowd roaring at him.

Reyes touched Azim in the body in the first round. But early Azim controlled the distance between them. He allowed the opponent’s jab to fall short, then let Reyes swing in the empty air before his own right blast to the body.

The second time Reyes took a direct one-two glove and Azim redirected the attack back to the body.

Still Reyes kept his guard tight as a right hook clapped against his glove.

Azim’s breakthrough came in the second half. Reyes stepped forward and streaked right in, hitting him flush in the chin. The force of the shot made Reyes fall back and he collapsed.

But the game “Starboy” beats the count and continues to Azim in the clinch, making it through to the bell.

Reyes stuck to his defense in the next round, only opening up with a flurry for a moment. In the fourth, Azim hit the body with a right, then a left hook. He jabbed high and scraped the hook right across Reyes’ stomach. He went and smacked him in the head.

But that didn’t faze Reyes’ determination. Nicaraguan jabbed to the chest in the fifth round, only to get a grip in the distance alone. For a moment, he asked Azim to enter with him. He allowed himself to smile, as he denied Azim the expected early defeat.

He didn’t come close to winning the round, as Azim landed a fifth uncorking right hook.

Reyes kept a smile on his face in the closing stages of the sixth inning. By moving to the seventh he has taken Azim more than his opponent before he has managed.

Azim landed a huge right uppercut, a countering shot, which Reyes had to swallow. He teed off with a left hook and in the clinch turned to the corner to nod while receiving instructions from trainer Shane McGuigan.

Reyes stayed steady and jabbed with a left to land the best shot of the fight.

He did not interfere with Azim’s dominance. In the ninth round, Azim dropped back and blasted a right when he saw Reyes’ defense open.

He continued to work on Reyes in the 10th and final round, landing a left hook to his head and repeating the shot to chase down the Nicaraguan.

Reyes leans under the right cross. But he wasn’t worried. He ends up throwing a shot, which Azim sinks easily but which sees Reyes pass to full range.

What they said

Adam Azim on Sky Sports:

“There was an earthquake, I want to take a moment to say that my heart is broken.

“I rate his performance, maybe like an eight out of 10. He’s very tough.

“After the first shot I landed on him and he fell, I thought he was gone.

“I landed the right one on the button.”

Coach Shane McGuigan on Sky Sports:

“That’s always what we want.

“We got knockdowns, they got rounds, they got experience. They got guys with tight guards and backs.

“He’s also learning how to play, so it’s all something he does in the gym but actually has to show on stage live.”