Dan Azeez vs Joshua Buatsi (03-02-2024) Full Fight
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [Commentator] Okay gentlemen, I play my commands. In the event of a knockdown, the fighter standing will go to the furthest shooting corner and stay there.
00:08 Protect yourself at all times, touch gloves.
00:11 Referee Bob Williams having to drag them back to the middle there to make sure that they touch gloves.
00:26 A final prayer offered up by Buatze. It's been a long time coming, they were due to meet back in October.
00:34 But the delay has built the anticipation. Buatze in the white and gold.
00:45 Aziz in the dark and light blue.
00:50 [Crowd noise]
01:11 Buatze just landing with a left hook. Aziz is looking for that right hand over the top.
01:17 [Crowd noise]
01:28 Aziz likes to stay low and then kind of spring up with that jab but Buatze who's sparred many rounds with him will know all about that.
01:35 He landed a decent jab Aziz as Matt Woods just speaking now, the two of them trying to work it out on the inside.
01:44 The referee getting involved. What are you seeing in these early stages Ben?
01:49 I really like the fact that both guys are trying to keep the center of the ring working off their jabs.
01:55 I thought it would be more of a feeling out process but they're both going for it from the start and I'm loving what I'm seeing so far.
02:01 Buatze just dipping his knees and looking for the right hand to the body there off the back of the jab.
02:07 [Crowd noise]
02:19 I think Matt said a really good thing where Dan Aziz really keeps himself tucked in.
02:24 He goes low, it's very hard to hit him very clean and it's working so far.
02:28 [Crowd noise]
02:33 Buatze just chopping down with the right hand, that got through as Aziz came forward.
02:38 [Crowd noise]
02:40 Tight opening round so far entering the final minutes of it.
02:44 He's not very tall Aziz for a lot of heavyweight but you see he's very chunky muscular and he's got big legs and he bends down.
02:51 When he does spring up with that jab he comes with the whole weight behind it and when he is that low it's difficult.
02:57 You punch him down you're leaving yourself open for the shots over the top.
03:00 [Crowd noise]
03:02 Buatze landing a decent left hand to the body.
03:04 [Crowd noise]
03:06 Aziz trying to use that jab, closing stages of round one.
03:12 [Crowd noise]
03:14 Leading off with a left hook there Buatze but Aziz coming back with the right hand.
03:17 Yeah good left hook there from Buatze but as you say Aziz can fire him straight back with his own short right hook.
03:23 [Crowd noise]
03:42 [Bell rings]
03:44 [Crowd noise]
03:46 So first round down between these two a long set between the pair of them at the end of that first round.
03:51 It's interesting when they both took to the ring the way they circled around each other.
03:56 What you got to do, now listen when you got close to him right, don't worry about his head.
04:02 Go downstairs, alright.
04:05 Alright.
04:07 You're doing good but now when you catch that hook to the body come back with the hook.
04:12 Okay.
04:14 [Crowd noise]
04:16 Okay.
04:18 Go at him with the double jab right.
04:21 When you get close to him don't worry about trying to hit him in the head.
04:24 Go downstairs on him, okay.
04:26 Just break him down, very good.
04:28 He's fine, keep that hand moving, okay.
04:31 [Crowd noise]
04:37 Body McGirt in the corner there.
04:40 With Dan Aziz, Larry Acondeo just outside the ropes he did a lot of work
04:45 with Aziz during camp.
04:48 They want more body work from Aziz in that blue corner.
04:52 [Crowd noise]
05:11 Aziz very deceptive with that jab, he's got long arms and he stays low and he springs up so
05:17 you feel like you're at a distance then he catches you with it.
05:22 Couple of body shots there from Boazzi, one was maybe a bit borderline, the referee didn't say anything.
05:28 Boazzi looking for the jab and then the right hand off the back of it, these two just
05:33 circling around each other, centering.
05:37 As you said in the first round both of them want to establish that, both of them want to take
05:41 the middle of the ring, nobody wants to give any ground.
05:44 100%, what I do like what Boazzi is doing right now, he looks very composed, he looks
05:48 comfortable going front, going back and he's working to the body, beautiful but
05:52 great fight so far, I think Boazzi might have took the first but it's looking tasty right now.
05:57 [Crowd noise]
06:00 Uppercut there from Boazzi, it was a tight first round but I would tend to agree that the
06:04 cleaner punches that did get through were from Boazzi who just gives Aziz a little
06:08 smile there as again he looked to try and work to the body of Aziz.
06:13 [Crowd noise]
06:30 Right hand into the body from Boazzi with a decent shot.
06:34 [Crowd noise]
06:45 There's that jab from Aziz, pops it up from the waist, just knocked Boazzi back onto his
06:50 heels, again he looks right to the body, Aziz counters with a right hand himself to the head.
06:56 [Crowd noise]
07:04 Closing stages of round two.
07:07 [Crowd noise]
07:14 Boazzi had a spell there where he took the centre of the ring and Oguntu was just
07:18 beginning to look a little bit more like the boss but that was a nice right hand there
07:22 from Aziz, Boazzi trying to answer with the uppercut.
07:25 Yeah good shot from Aziz, he'll get a lot of confidence from that.
07:29 Picking his shots, not wasting anything.
07:33 I think Aziz is doing really well this round to be honest.
07:36 [Crowd noise]
07:41 [Bell rings]
07:44 [Crowd noise]
07:46 [Music]
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08:12 [Music]
08:22 [Swoosh]
08:24 [Crowd noise]
08:38 Aziz chopping the short right hand over the top.
08:42 I thought it was a good round from Aziz.
08:44 [Crowd noise]
08:53 Both just short with the jab.
08:55 [Crowd noise]
08:58 Dipping the knees Aziz, keeping that head on the move.
09:01 It's not extravagant movement but it's just enough to slip the shots.
09:07 I think it would be nice to see the guys switch up the speed, add some feints, something like that.
09:11 It's very one pace right now.
09:13 It looks a bit like a spar to me right now but it's good, good work.
09:16 That's to see when they open it up like that, it's beautiful.
09:18 I think the shoes open down the levels.
09:20 [Crowd noise]
09:25 I think Aziz should focus on the body.
09:27 He doesn't want to get caught reaching and then get counted over the top.
09:30 So I think he just focuses on the chest.
09:32 Punch, double jab, right hand, push.
09:34 Boatse back and next step to him, keep the pressure on him.
09:37 [Crowd noise]
09:40 Boatse going to come over the top of that jab.
09:43 If Boatse reaches, good left hook from Boatse.
09:47 Right hand into the body from Boatse followed by the left hook.
09:50 Buddy McGirt in between rounds has warned Aziz about giving away too much to the body.
09:58 Good jab there from Aziz.
09:59 It's hard to read that lead left hand of Aziz.
10:02 He just plants it straight down the middle.
10:04 [Crowd noise]
10:15 Right hand from Aziz there just chopping down.
10:18 Not sure if it landed absolutely clean.
10:20 Boatse's back was to his.
10:22 I think he kind of deflected that with the shoulder roll.
10:24 [Crowd noise]
10:29 It's just heating up a little bit now.
10:30 Boatse looking to try and attack the body.
10:32 Aziz looking to let his right hand go.
10:35 Just catching a few as he came forward there, Aziz.
10:38 [Crowd noise]
10:41 Beautiful body shot there.
10:44 [Crowd noise]
10:49 Combination there from Aziz into the final minute of round three.
10:52 [Crowd noise]
10:55 The pace of this has just picked up in the second half of this round.
10:58 [Crowd noise]
11:01 Dan gets the success because he's up in the levels where Boatse is just stuck in the mud right now for me.
11:06 He's not fainting.
11:07 He's just doing the same jab.
11:09 And there you go, straight over the top.
11:11 [Crowd noise]
11:15 Breathe, breathe!
11:16 [Crowd noise]
11:22 Looking for the uppercut on the inside there.
11:23 Boatse Aziz trying to go to the body.
11:25 Lands with the right hand, followed by a left.
11:28 Boatse sets his feet as well.
11:30 Final stages of the third round.
11:32 These two just letting their hands go.
11:35 They're really catching fire here now.
11:37 Both guys unloading both hands.
11:39 [Crowd noise]
11:41 Cutting right hand from Boatse.
11:43 Let's go down to Anna, Tasha and George.
11:45 See how they're seeing it.
11:46 Yeah, it's heating up rather nicely, isn't it, Tasha?
11:49 How are you seeing it?
11:50 It was a great end to the last round.
11:52 It was tough to score.
11:53 I had them one-all after the first two.
11:56 That one, I don't know.
11:58 I don't know.
11:59 Neither are giving an inch, are they?
12:01 Yeah, considering they've been friends before,
12:04 it is harsh.
12:06 It seemed like there's needles between it.
12:09 That's the thing, George.
12:10 It feels really personal in there.
12:12 How key is it going to be to keep emotions in check?
12:15 Yeah, it can be.
12:16 I mean, it's already a physical fight.
12:17 Both guys are throwing big shots.
12:19 As their energy system starts to deteriorate,
12:21 it could be who's switched on,
12:23 who's fixed their concentration
12:25 and doesn't give away that free shot.
12:27 Both being caught with good right hands.
12:29 At some point, that right hand might pay dividends,
12:31 might get rid of the guy in front of him.
12:33 So it's really heating up.
12:35 It's a really, really good fight.
12:36 Let's see how they hold them
12:38 and get back to the commentary team.
12:40 It really is shaping up very nicely, this.
12:44 The tempo noticeably being upped by both of them
12:48 in the second half of that previous round.
12:51 Yeah, I think the key is when the intensity heats up
12:54 and it goes up a few levels,
12:55 it's important that they've got to keep their composure,
12:58 keep their shape,
12:59 don't kick up with the chin in the air
13:01 and get caught then in the flurry or in the exchanges.
13:03 So, you know, yes, it's good to inject some energy,
13:07 force that pace,
13:08 but it's also crucial not to get sloppy,
13:11 not to get ragged and get penalised,
13:12 get caught with something.
13:13 Good right hand into the body from Aziz
13:16 at the start of the round.
13:17 He landed a nice jab,
13:18 but Bouazizi with an uppercut there.
13:20 And again,
13:22 they're standing right in front of each other
13:26 in the first minute of this fourth round.
13:29 Good body work there from Bouazizi
13:35 as he's looking for the right hand
13:37 and then he beckons Bouazizi in.
13:39 Good, good.
13:40 Again, again.
13:43 Again.
13:47 Again, again.
13:49 You first.
13:50 Take it from...
13:51 Bouazizi really investing in that body,
13:59 looks for the uppercut again there with Short with it.
14:01 I think he feels that's something that Aziz
14:04 might be set up for as he comes in
14:06 and brings that head in a little bit low at times.
14:09 Yeah, he's really planting his feet
14:10 for these body shots.
14:11 Bouazizi really looking to drive some power
14:13 into them shots.
14:14 Good jab from Aziz.
14:17 And against the body there,
14:30 Bouazizi catches a jab
14:31 as he was pulling back on his way out.
14:33 Little uppercut on the inside there from Aziz.
14:36 Left hand from Bouazizi.
14:38 Aziz lands again and...
14:40 Nobody can have the final say in these exchanges.
14:43 Just when one fighter looks like
14:45 he might be about to put a few together,
14:47 the other one always has a reply.
14:49 Bouazizi with a left hook again there,
14:51 going down to the body once more.
14:53 And Bouazizi again lands that left.
14:57 This is a terrific fight already, it really is.
15:05 There you go.
15:06 Aziz just trying to mix up the levels
15:08 with the jab going head and body.
15:10 That's good, you want to get predictable.
15:12 Bouazizi starts timing that jab,
15:14 he'll look to chop the right hand over the top.
15:16 So it's good that Aziz is varying it,
15:18 varying the pace, varying the levels,
15:20 using some feints.
15:21 Back to body.
15:24 Descend into your body, it's okay.
15:26 He had a good spell there, Bouazizi,
15:30 by my estimation.
15:31 Both of these two maybe just taking a foot off the gas
15:33 slightly towards the end of the round.
15:35 And now looking for a big finish as they hear that clapper.
15:38 Well, four rounds in and this is
15:45 everything that we wanted it to be.
15:47 It is tight, it is skillful,
15:49 it is entertaining.
15:51 And that's why
15:54 the boxing fans have turned out
15:57 for this one at Wembley Arena.
16:00 And it's a good match.
16:01 The both guys looking to work the body on the inside.
16:06 Bouazizi just finds a nice little gap there,
16:08 threaded that right uppercut through the middle,
16:10 snapping the head back of Aziz.
16:12 And again, lovely jab there from Bouazizi.
16:14 How are you seeing this, Ben?
16:24 Is either one of them managing to get a foothold
16:26 in any kind of ascendancy?
16:28 It's one of those fights, really.
16:30 You have a great spell from Bouazizi.
16:32 Aziz comes back with a great response.
16:34 Aziz has a great spell.
16:35 Bouazizi comes back with a great response.
16:37 So behind the good,
16:38 I'm really liking the work from Bouazizi with the body shots.
16:41 He can't really hit the head,
16:42 keeps chopping that body.
16:43 He's slowing him down a little bit,
16:44 but great work from both guys.
16:46 Aziz with a jab at the start of the fifth.
16:56 I feel like there's nothing in the fight,
16:58 but it seems like Aziz is working harder,
17:01 where Bouazizi looks a little bit more comfortable.
17:04 Well, you know, it's early.
17:06 We're only into the fifth here.
17:07 I think this is going to be a long fight.
17:10 Advice coming in from Badi Mughurt for Aziz.
17:21 Aziz just slightly gesturing to his trainer
17:24 that he's hearing him.
17:26 Bouazizi trying to put his hands together on the inside,
17:28 looking for the uppercut.
17:29 He quite landed.
17:30 Again, went down to the body.
17:32 Aziz, same thing, looking for that uppercut.
17:34 Right to the body,
17:40 left hook up to the head there from Bouazizi
17:42 was a good combination.
17:44 And again, he's scoring with that now.
17:51 Now you've got to move forward.
17:53 There you go. Forward again.
17:54 To the body, Dan.
17:56 Dan, to the body.
17:57 Mughurt just imploring Aziz to go down to Bouazizi's body.
18:01 Back up now.
18:02 Pressure away.
18:04 Where? Where? Where?
18:05 Pressure away.
18:07 Go to the body.
18:13 Go to the body.
18:14 Go to the body.
18:15 And when he's punching to the head,
18:19 Bouazizi's slipping and sliding.
18:20 He's getting some head movement off the jabs
18:22 and then he's loading up the counters
18:24 to put back his fire back shell.
18:26 Oh, good shot.
18:27 Bouazizi just bangs his thugs together.
18:30 Aziz lands a right hander just before that.
18:32 Bouazizi had measured that solid left hook
18:35 and checked his chin with it.
18:37 Heading into the final minute of round five.
18:40 Aziz just rallying a little bit there
18:44 in the last 15, 20 seconds.
18:46 And I don't think he needed to.
18:48 Azizi doing some clever stuff right now.
18:51 He's not putting the power in every shot.
18:53 He's tapping, he's tapping, waiting for the opening.
18:55 Then he's hitting him hard.
18:56 He's quite clever stuff right now.
18:58 Bouazizi's done some good work in this round though.
19:01 And right to the body.
19:03 Then left up to the head.
19:04 It's been effective.
19:06 But neither one of these two giving an inch yet.
19:10 They're testing each other out.
19:12 We knew this would be a battle of wills.
19:15 Good jab there from Aziz.
19:17 Long right hander.
19:22 He catches Bouazizi with a left.
19:24 Almost comes onto the uppercut there, Aziz.
19:27 Good concussive stuff from Bouazizi.
19:35 But Aziz comes straight back.
19:36 Right hander from Bouazizi.
19:38 Put Aziz back onto his heel.
19:40 Yeah, those were hard shots from Bouazizi.
19:44 And again a long lingering stare between the two.
19:46 This has got tough quickly, this fight.
19:48 We thought that it would.
19:50 Everybody in the crowd entertained by it.
19:53 It's been much anticipated, this one.
19:58 Stay close, get under that shit, Dan, and dig to the body.
20:01 Trust me, man.
20:02 Yeah, stay close.
20:04 He's got to get a left.
20:06 Yeah, I think, you know, when he picks up Aziz,
20:11 he gets caught, but he stays low and focused on the body.
20:13 He's having good effect.
20:14 It's difficult for Bouazizi to catch him.
20:16 When he picks up, you know, he gets caught there.
20:19 Short left hook.
20:20 You can hear Bully McGirt there trying to stay low,
20:23 stay on the body.
20:24 Landing left hook simultaneously.
20:28 We've got some solid whiskers in there.
20:33 On both of these two.
20:36 There's that right hand that Aziz walked into
20:38 at the end of the round, but it didn't put any kind of dent in him.
20:42 Into the sixth.
20:43 Bouazizi in the white and gold.
20:47 Aziz in the dark and light blue.
20:50 Those short shorts, long socks, white boots.
20:53 His homage to his hero Marvin Hagler.
20:57 Bouazizi continues to target the body.
21:11 Aziz using that jab.
21:14 Trying to chop down with the right hand.
21:18 Wasn't far away.
21:40 Again, Bouazizi dipping low at the waist.
21:42 There's the left hook.
21:43 And again.
21:45 Three times Bouazizi lands that left hand
21:49 with varying degrees of cleanliness.
22:08 Aziz has got to keep this pace up.
22:11 Bouazizi can't afford to have a mutual rest.
22:13 When Bouazizi wants to have a little breather,
22:16 that's when Aziz has got to step on him.
22:18 He hit the nail on the head there.
22:21 I was about to say the same thing.
22:22 Even if it's a jab, even if it's a feint,
22:24 just keep him uncomfortable.
22:26 Bouazizi is good at controlling the pace,
22:30 good at conserving energy.
22:31 So Aziz is the one who's got to force that.
22:34 Take him out of that comfort zone.
22:35 As you say, it might be a feint, a jab.
22:37 Just make him react, make him burn that nervous energy.
22:41 Exactly. Anything is better than nothing.
22:43 Aziz looking to try and take his feet in and get to the body.
22:50 Quiet around this one so far as we head into the final minute.
22:54 Left hook just caught there by the right glove of Aziz.
23:06 Heading up towards the halfway point.
23:08 Magut in the corner just screaming at Aziz to step on Bouazizi
23:27 whenever he gets the opportunity.
23:29 It's a tough, tough leg to fight,
23:31 but this was always going to be that kind of contest.
23:33 Good jab there from Aziz.
23:35 And the right hand.
23:36 OK, let's go down ringside.
23:42 Andy Scott is with Callum Simpson.
23:44 Callum, you've done so many rounds with Dan Aziz.
23:46 Presumably you've seen this all before.
23:48 How are you scoring this one?
23:49 I probably give every round to Bouazizi,
23:51 maybe a draw for one round,
23:53 but I think Bouazizi is putting the shots together a lot better
23:57 and picking the shots well,
23:59 and Dan's not really doing enough for me.
24:01 The tables might have turned a bit that round
24:03 if Dan had let in a lot more shots like that last round.
24:06 I think it's all about going into round seven now,
24:09 so back after the fight, we'll see what happens.
24:11 We're going to move along the line.
24:12 Vidal, how are you seeing this one so far?
24:14 I've got Bouazizi slightly ahead, but Dan is doing what he does.
24:17 As the fight goes on, he warms into it
24:19 and he starts getting into his rhythm.
24:21 I don't know who's going to win the fight at this point.
24:23 Good body shots from Bouazizi, good consistency from Dan.
24:27 - Good to see you, Vidal. - Good to see you as well, man.
24:31 I'd say that's a pretty accurate verdict there from Vidal Reilly.
24:34 Callum Simpson, I can see what he's saying
24:36 because there's not been much in any of these rounds,
24:38 and if you shaved Bouazizi, then you would have him well ahead.
24:42 There's been lots of tight rounds in that opening six.
24:47 Bouazizi, though, as you were saying, Matt, of the two,
24:49 maybe a bit fresher heading into the second half,
24:52 and the more eye-catching work possibly has been done by him.
24:55 Yeah, I don't think there's a lot in the rounds.
24:58 You know, 3-3, maybe 4-2 Bouazizi,
25:01 but he probably looks the fresher of the two
25:05 and he probably seems to have that bit more firepower when he does let them go.
25:09 Well, that's how you're seeing it at home.
25:11 You've got 4-2 Bouazizi, 3-6.
25:13 I make that a decent assessment.
25:17 Keep your body, Dan.
25:19 Keep your body.
25:25 I think it is what we said earlier, just staying composed, Bouazizi.
25:29 Even when he's blocking, he's composed, he looks comfortable,
25:32 and he's picking those openings,
25:34 and for me, that's what I like to see, comfortability at all times.
25:37 Bouazizi just looking to try and plant that jab.
25:41 A little stutter, faint with the front foot,
25:43 right hand to the body, then up to the left hook.
25:46 That's what he's looked for right from the start, and again there.
25:49 Push him back, Dan, push him back.
25:51 Push him back, go, go, go.
25:53 I think at this pace, Bouazizi's too comfortable.
25:56 I think Aziz has got to try and up the tempo here.
25:59 Obviously easier said than done.
26:01 You know, he's already probably working harder out of the two,
26:05 but I think that's the only way he's going to get this done.
26:07 I don't think he's going to-- I can't think he can win the fight staying at this pace.
26:10 Bouazizi looks too comfortable.
26:12 I think he's got to really force the tempo here.
26:14 Keep your back, forward.
26:18 Back forward.
26:21 That's it, that's it.
26:23 Bouazizi's too comfortable there.
26:24 I think Aziz has got to step to him, work the body, push him back,
26:28 try and force the pace a bit more,
26:30 try and take Bouazizi out of his comfort zone.
26:32 Body, second body.
26:34 Aziz landing the jab.
26:38 Come on, come on, come back up now, come back up.
26:41 It's been a comparatively quiet round, this one.
26:45 There will be more than one.
26:46 With 50-odd seconds remaining in the seventh.
26:48 Good combination there from Bouazizi.
26:50 He's landed the uppercut in quite land full.
26:52 Head to the body.
26:54 Come back up now, come back up.
26:59 Work, work, work.
27:01 Back to the body.
27:05 Don't be afraid.
27:10 Breathe, breathe.
27:13 Good job.
27:19 Stay low.
27:21 Back to the chest.
27:26 Bouazizi just flicking out that jab.
27:29 Aziz just short with his left hand.
27:32 Looking to the right hand over the top there, Bouazizi.
27:42 We'll be right back.
27:45 Boxing on Sky Sports.
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28:20 Next week.
28:24 But then you gotta get that jab working.
28:26 You're jabbing and you're pulling back.
28:28 Okay, we hold it.
28:30 Well, Boddy McGurdon at Aziz' corner, Matt.
28:33 He's just asking for more from him, basically.
28:35 He's telling him he needs to work harder and try and finish the round strong as well.
28:38 When you hear that 10-second clapper, just let your hands go.
28:41 Well, like I was saying, this tempo, this pace, it suits Bouazizi.
28:45 He's composed, he's calm, he's controlling it.
28:48 Aziz has got to try and make him uncomfortable.
28:50 He's got to take him out of his rhythm.
28:51 He's got to force the pace.
28:52 And he doesn't have to look for the big, perfect shot.
28:55 Just focus on the body, push shots together, try and drive him backwards.
28:58 Push him off balance, then step on him again.
29:01 Bouazizi just talking to Aziz in there.
29:09 As I said at the very beginning,
29:16 Bouazizi always claims it's just business.
29:20 But boxing is the most personal sport there is.
29:23 Right hand from Aziz is maybe just slightly short,
29:33 but he threw it with some intent.
29:35 Bouazizi again going down to the body.
29:40 Uppercut, didn't land full there from Bouazizi,
29:46 but he dug his toes in, almost found his range.
29:49 That's it, that's it.
29:51 That's it, that's it.
29:54 That's it, that's it.
29:55 That's it, that's it.
29:56 That's it.
29:57 That's it.
29:58 That was better from Aziz, doubled up on the jab.
30:00 And then decent defence there as the left hand came in from Bouazizi.
30:03 That's better from Aziz, good body shot.
30:14 But then he's got to go again.
30:17 100%.
30:18 He's just letting him, let him go out to coast.
30:21 He's letting him jab him, fiddle his way around the ring.
30:23 He should just be on him non-stop,
30:25 because every time he's standing there, that's when he's getting caught.
30:29 Good job.
30:30 Back, back, forward.
30:31 Keep your head down, yeah.
30:34 OK, you're better off.
30:40 By the fight, back to the body.
30:44 Go back up now, Dan.
30:47 Go for the one.
30:48 You're the only threat.
30:51 Jab from Aziz.
30:56 Just about got there.
30:57 Bouazizi almost trying to tempt him in with that low lead left hand.
31:01 Against the body from Bouazizi,
31:08 you must feel surely that at some point that investment that he's made
31:12 will pay some dividends later in the fight.
31:14 Aziz has soaked them up so far.
31:25 Bouazizi trying to rip with that left hook.
31:27 An open out for the right hand.
31:29 Again to the body, the back hook just slipped out of Aziz.
31:35 Left hand landed from Bouazizi, a left coming from Aziz,
31:39 as Bouazizi has turned his back slightly right on the belt.
31:42 Bouazizi taking a seat in that corner,
31:51 and we've just got four rounds remaining here,
31:54 which is very much the business end now for both of these two.
31:58 They have a bit of close rounds in there.
32:00 We feel that Bouazizi is doing enough currently.
32:03 What does Aziz need to do, Ben,
32:05 to just get himself more back into this fight?
32:08 We're getting towards those championship rounds now.
32:10 I think Dan Aziz needs to, like you said, it's easier said than done,
32:13 but push the pace, hit anything, anything to target,
32:16 arms, hips, anywhere to target.
32:19 He just needs to push the pace.
32:20 Every time he's standing there, he's letting Bouazizi just close,
32:23 and it makes Dan Aziz, it makes Bouazizi look comfortable,
32:26 and to the judges, he's winning the fight.
32:29 It's not that Aziz hasn't had success in this fight, Matt,
32:33 because he has, he's done some good work in there at times.
32:36 No, he's in the fight, he's in the fight,
32:38 but he's probably losing the fight at this point.
32:40 There's a few rounds to go, he's got to up the pace.
32:43 Timeout call by the referee here.
32:46 Bob Williams has a towel left on the top rope for him there,
32:49 just to mop up a little bit of water in the center of the ring.
32:52 We saw Aziz's back foot just slip slightly
32:56 towards the end of that previous round.
32:58 Just taking his time here, the referee, and rightly so.
33:08 I bet both guys are loving that.
33:19 So, four to go here, the crowd just trying to rouse these two.
33:22 It's a battle of South London, remember, bragging rights,
33:26 very much up for grabs.
33:28 Bouazizi boxing out of Croydon, Aziz out of Lewisham.
33:33 Aziz just landing a nice stiff jab there at the beginning of the ninth.
33:37 You know, this is a hard stage of the fight, you're eight rounds in,
33:40 you can't quite see the light at the end of the tunnel yet,
33:43 you're at rounds, you're still in the ninth, you're at the tenth,
33:45 but this is where both guys have got to really dig in,
33:48 but Aziz more so, because Bouazizi's ahead,
33:50 he's kind of controlling the pace.
33:52 If Aziz, this fight's slipping away from him,
33:54 he's got to dig in now, got to take the fight to him.
33:57 Like Ben said, if you hit his arm, it doesn't matter,
33:59 you'll drive him off balance, step on him again.
34:02 There's no easy way to do this now,
34:04 you've got to bite down on the gum shield and take the fight to Bouazizi.
34:07 Exactly, there don't even need to be hard shots,
34:09 there could be light shots to set up the hard shot.
34:11 At the moment, it looks like he's trying to get that big eye catcher,
34:14 the big crowd wowser.
34:16 Those picky shots, double jab right hand, keep breaking him down.
34:20 Aziz just trying to get up tight,
34:25 the left hand on the inside there from Bouazizi,
34:27 he's disengaged and just found a little bit of room.
34:30 Aziz trying to find his own left hook,
34:32 this is good for Aziz though, he's busy things up here.
34:34 This is big on the right.
34:36 And the left hand from Aziz there as well,
34:41 he's trying to put the pressure on Bouazizi here.
34:45 That was a lot better work,
34:47 and you can see in Bouazizi's face,
34:49 he doesn't like it when it's like that,
34:51 so a little bit of confidence from Aziz,
34:53 see that in his face and just keep pushing.
34:56 Bouazizi trying to sink that right hand into the body again there,
35:04 but when they're up tight like that,
35:06 and he just dips over at the waist, Aziz,
35:08 he's a difficult target to find.
35:10 He could protect that right hand,
35:12 he could protect that body effectively,
35:14 Bouazizi picks a couple of little gaps on the inside there,
35:17 but Aziz has had more success in this round
35:20 than he has done in a few previously.
35:23 But there's not much in it,
35:26 Bouazizi again there just landing a combination on the inside.
35:29 But even just those little tip-tap shots,
35:31 if you can push Bouazizi back,
35:33 knock him off balance, push his head off,
35:35 bend your knees, get low, get underneath him,
35:37 get into the stronger position and push him back.
35:40 They both landed left hands a few seconds ago,
35:43 the second from Bouazizi just put Aziz back onto his heels,
35:46 he's working hard in this round,
35:48 Dan Aziz, Ben and Matt and Buddy McGirt as well
35:52 were encouraging him to do.
35:54 There goes the clap, but McGirt wants him to really go here,
36:08 final few seconds of the round.
36:10 But Bouazizi recognizes the need for a good finish as well.
36:14 This next three rounds, that's what you gotta do, Dan.
36:24 You gotta make it a goddamn dogfight, you hear me?
36:26 Hey, shut it down inside, shut it down and give me the hooks.
36:30 You understand? Stop relying on the right hand.
36:36 Hey!
36:38 What round we're going, the 10?
36:40 Hey, you got three rounds.
36:42 You gotta stay in his ass for three rounds.
36:45 Hey, look at me.
36:46 And when you hear that clap for 10 seconds, get one.
36:49 Right back, buddy.
36:51 10-point shot.
36:53 Now the right uppercut is there,
36:55 but you stay down, quick raise left in front.
36:57 OK, the front is not bothering you at all, all right?
37:00 OK, don't get in the club, Ben.
37:03 You fucked, OK?
37:06 You gotta stay low, Dan, son.
37:08 So three rounds to go in the Aziz corner.
37:13 They feel that they've wedged their foot back in the door there, Matt.
37:16 These final three rounds, he's just got to keep smashing his shoulder into it, Aziz,
37:20 and try and just burst it open.
37:22 Look, it ain't about any technical move.
37:25 It was a G in him up there from Buddy McGirty.
37:29 Take him into a dogfight.
37:30 Come on now, three rounds, this is it, take it to him.
37:33 Boatzi wants to get distance, get his jab.
37:35 He's the better technician, but Dan Aziz has got to really bite down on his gumshield now.
37:40 Force that pace, stay low, don't take anything stupid,
37:43 and just keep that pace up and try and really make Boatzi uncomfortable in there.
37:47 Aziz looking for that right hand, as we've been saying.
37:52 There have been close rounds, particularly in the early stages.
37:56 Aziz, by our reckoning, needs a strong finish here,
37:59 but if he can get one, he can tighten this right up.
38:03 It could be very close come the end,
38:05 if he can bag a few of these final rounds, Dan Aziz.
38:08 Boatzi with some good body work there.
38:13 The thing is as well with Aziz, the closer he is and staying low, he's safe.
38:22 When he backs off and there's distance, that's when he can get caught with shots.
38:25 When he's up close, Boatzi can't really catch him with anything.
38:30 Good shot.
38:31 Lovely right hand there from Aziz.
38:33 Landed right on the jaw of Boatzi.
38:35 Gert is screaming at him to come forward there, Aziz.
38:50 Looks for that right hand again.
38:54 Forward, forward, Dan!
38:56 Forward, there you go.
38:59 Keep working, Dan.
39:00 Forward, forward.
39:01 Boatzi sticking to that policy of banging to the body.
39:04 Left hand's exchanged.
39:06 Nice combination from Boatzi on the inside.
39:10 Final minute of round 10 and this is where it really counts now.
39:15 Keep going forward.
39:16 There you go, keep working.
39:18 There you go.
39:19 Forward.
39:20 There you go.
39:21 Keep working, Dan.
39:22 Keep working.
39:23 Really good level stuff, this.
39:25 As we expected it to be, but they're both holding their shape.
39:30 They're both holding that technique.
39:31 They've had to work terrifically hard throughout this fight.
39:34 That's the key now, not to get ragged as you're getting tired.
39:37 As the fatigue's kicking in, don't lose your shape.
39:40 Stay composed.
39:42 Aziz with a nice volley on the inside.
39:45 Caught ahead of Boatzi.
39:46 Boatzi again just sticking to that body whenever he can.
39:51 He hasn't really managed to slow Aziz up too much with it, though,
39:54 which has been impressive.
39:56 Aziz's part, his conditioning is on point.
40:00 Final stages of round 10.
40:02 This again has been a tight round.
40:04 A big finish could be important for either one of these two here.
40:08 Good left hand there from Boatzi.
40:11 They both land left right on the bell.
40:19 Boatzi landed a particularly good left hook there on the bell.
40:23 8,000 in at Wembley Arena.
40:28 And a terrific fight a couple of weeks ago in Liverpool.
40:34 Another good one here tonight.
40:36 You need to keep moving, not stationary.
40:38 Quit letting me go forward, and when you punch, I need a reaction, okay?
40:43 Just relax, man. Relax.
40:45 Make this number 11.
40:48 Number 11.
40:49 Number 11.
40:52 Make these your greatest two rounds.
40:55 I need you to close the show, okay?
40:57 11 coming up.
41:01 I need you to dominate this round, Boatzi.
41:03 Don't give me nothing.
41:04 Close the show.
41:05 The good again there, just winding Aziz up as he sends him out.
41:14 If you give Aziz those last two rounds,
41:16 I'd say he won that 9, that 10th again was a close round,
41:19 but if he did go Aziz's way with both of them, this is getting tight.
41:23 Yeah, definitely.
41:25 I mean, I think Boatzi's probably got his nose ahead,
41:27 but he certainly can't rest on his laurels.
41:29 He needs to be certain here.
41:31 Like you say, some of those rounds are close.
41:32 They could have gone either way, so he needs these two rounds.
41:35 He needs both these rounds too to make sure.
41:37 Good jab.
41:38 Good shot landing there.
41:46 From Aziz.
41:47 Virgil Hunter running Boatzi to Box.
41:56 In this 11th round to keep that technique together to stick to the plan.
42:03 Box, Box.
42:04 That's it.
42:05 There you go.
42:06 Box.
42:07 That's it. There you go.
42:09 Go Box, get ready.
42:10 There you go. There you go.
42:12 Box.
42:13 Aziz up tight.
42:21 Finished on the left hook.
42:23 Left hook from Boatzi, right hand there from Aziz.
42:25 Aziz, too, just standing, centering.
42:28 They're both slipping a little bit on the surface,
42:30 and there at times Boatzi loads his, digs his feet in
42:33 and looks to let his hands go.
42:35 This way, you've got to bite down on the grub shield.
42:43 Your body's tired.
42:44 You've just got to push on through.
42:46 You can see Aziz there just sucking in the air.
42:49 Big, wide-winging left hand there from Boatzi.
42:52 Yeah, kind of stepped into a sad pose,
42:54 dancing through the left hook.
42:56 Landing a good shot there, Boatzi.
42:58 Come on, guys, let's go.
43:00 We need this round, guys.
43:01 We need this round, guys.
43:03 See, down Aziz, mouth open, breathing heavy here.
43:06 Right hand into the body again there from Boatzi,
43:12 got nice and low.
43:14 Into the final minute of the 11th.
43:21 It's attritional stuff, this good combination there from Aziz.
43:27 Down goes Aziz.
43:29 I think he feels that that was a slip as much as anything else,
43:32 but it was started by a punch.
43:34 The shot landed.
43:36 The weight of his feet went out from underneath him.
43:38 It looked to me like it might have been a slight problem
43:41 with the surface there.
43:43 I think he slipped, but a punch did land at the same time.
43:46 It did.
43:48 Very unfortunate there, Boatzi, part of the game.
43:50 Aziz looking for that right hand over the top.
43:53 20 seconds remaining in round 11.
43:57 And that would make this a 10-8 round for Joshua Boatzi.
44:01 There's not been all that much in it again.
44:03 For the knockdown.
44:06 Such a major moment in the round.
44:09 Left hand into the body there from Boatzi,
44:11 right hand from Boatzi.
44:13 They're stepping up each one of these.
44:15 Just slips again there.
44:17 Is the referee going to call this a knockdown?
44:19 The referee is going to call that a knockdown.
44:21 I'm not so sure that time, the way that he went down.
44:24 I think he may have sprung himself off balance there.
44:27 And this over-mentum has taken him down.
44:29 We'll see the both again, I'm sure, the first one.
44:32 It feels like a punch started it, the second one.
44:35 I don't think so, because that is going to be a 10-7 round for Joshua Boatzi.
44:39 It's possible he's coming at me.
44:42 Dan, Dan, he's trying to come over with the right hand.
44:46 Yeah, quite good.
44:48 He's trying to get the moisture off that ring surface, off that canvas.
44:52 Here we go, let's have a look.
44:54 You stand outside too long.
44:56 Hey, hey, hey, hey.
44:59 Where's the lapid?
45:01 First one is a legitimate knockdown, because the right hand landed,
45:05 and then his feet went from underneath him.
45:07 That time again, a punch did land,
45:09 but the feet just went completely out from underneath him
45:11 as he was opening out the thrower left hand.
45:14 I can see why the referee has given them both a knockdown.
45:18 I can see why.
45:19 I can also see him knock you to the second one.
45:21 I can see why the ref did it, but he's still unlucky for Aziz,
45:24 because I think if he weren't even hit the slip, he would have got down 100%.
45:27 And it now gives him a huge mountain to climb,
45:29 because with the two knockdowns, that will be a 10-7 round for Joshua Boatzi.
45:35 So Aziz really here, realistically now, probably needs a knockout.
45:40 He's just got to put it all on the line now.
45:42 He's got nothing to lose now.
45:44 There's no point backing up, just keep going forward.
45:48 That's a good one for Boatzi. He looks for the uppercut.
45:51 Aziz catches that one, keeps coming forward.
45:54 Right hand again now from Boatzi.
45:56 Aziz just doesn't really trust his surface underneath his boots at the minute,
46:00 I don't think, but he hasn't got time to worry about that now.
46:03 Stiff jab from Boatzi.
46:05 And the same from Aziz.
46:11 A couple of minutes to go.
46:14 It's been a good, good fight to watch.
46:17 He was building head of steam, Aziz, in the ninth and the tenth rounds,
46:24 after he maybe just lost his way slightly in the middle of the fight.
46:28 Right hand there from Aziz.
46:42 Boatzi, though, was just pulling his weight onto the back foot, managed to ride it.
46:47 He didn't get into the Boatzi corner between rounds.
46:53 The left hand there, I think, stunned Aziz a little bit.
46:56 Boatzi senses it and is looking to step on him slightly here.
47:00 Yeah, it was a good left hook.
47:02 He doesn't need to be too reckless here, Boatzi.
47:06 The corner may well have told him they feel that he's ahead
47:08 and he just needs to finish on his feet here.
47:11 Aziz again just gesturing towards the canvas.
47:15 I'm not sure what's causing that problem.
47:19 Sometimes if fighters have been drenched in water in between rounds,
47:22 it drips off their shorts. I haven't really noticed that.
47:25 Maybe sweat.
47:26 The sweat is flying, absolutely, but that's the same for almost any fight you see.
47:31 There's a left hook again now from Boatzi.
47:39 And he's teeing off on Dan Aziz.
47:41 Now Aziz, big go back into the ropes.
47:43 Boatzi looking for the finish.
47:46 30 seconds remaining.
47:48 Aziz trying to suck in the air.
47:50 Can Boatzi settle this South London argument once and for all?
47:56 Can he provide that full stop?
48:01 He's got nothing left here, Dan Aziz.
48:04 He's put absolutely everything into this.
48:07 Boatzi is not wanting to take any chances here
48:10 and that is absolutely understandable.
48:12 He went for him there.
48:14 It didn't quite happen.
48:15 Over 10 seconds to go.
48:17 Aziz tries to throw that right hand.
48:20 Boatzi winding up with his own right.
48:23 Snipes over the shoulder of Aziz.
48:25 There goes the bell.
48:27 They can be friends again now, these two.
48:31 A kiss on the forehead.
48:36 That was a battle as we knew that it would be.
48:39 Joshua Boatzi has done enough there.
48:43 Great fight by both men there.
48:47 Definitely good performance from Boatzi
48:50 and great effort from Dan Aziz.
48:53 He can be proud of his performance.
48:55 He can be proud of the effort that he put into that.
48:57 I don't think he left any energy in the chat whatsoever.
49:01 If I was Dan though, I'd be ripping up that canvas, I'll tell you now.
49:04 Definitely, he'll get some new boots.
49:06 He had a good round in the ninth, Aziz.
49:11 They just got him a little foothold back in the fight.
49:13 He needed a really strong finish.
49:16 The tenth was close.
49:18 We were thinking at that point if he could take that one
49:22 and then finish strong in the final two,
49:24 then we could have a real close one on our hands.
49:26 But Boatzi took that eleventh round.
49:29 Ten-seven with those two knockdowns.
49:33 And then in the final round,
49:34 he had Aziz on the run a little bit,
49:37 but he just couldn't quite close the show.
49:40 And you look at the effort that Aziz has put in there
49:42 as he wanders back over to his corner.
49:45 He's got nothing to reproach himself for there.
49:47 He really hasn't.
49:49 You look at what he's achieved over the last few years,
49:51 it's been absolutely extraordinary.
49:54 As I said at the very start,
49:56 in his first ever amateur fight,
49:57 he got stopped inside 30 seconds.
50:01 And he's gone on to win every title you can do
50:04 up to European level.
50:06 Joshua Boatzi...
50:10 is going to become a British champion for the second time here
50:16 and take that Commonwealth title as well.
50:18 And this is some of the action from that final round, Matt,
50:21 where he wasn't far away from closing the conversation.
50:25 No, I think he was out on his feet a little bit there, Aziz.
50:28 Fatigue as much as anything.
50:31 Yeah, good shot, left hooks as well.
50:33 But he was also, even at the start of the round,
50:36 you could see he was really tired.
50:38 Yeah, you could. Mouth open, a bit drained,
50:41 but he was pushing the pace from the start,
50:43 so fair play to him, but great finish by Boatzi there.
50:47 I think that solidified the win for him.
50:50 Yeah, I mean, that's a shot when you're knackered in the 12th round,
50:57 you don't need to be taken.
50:59 But he took it and shrugged it off and he stayed in there.
51:03 What about the performance there from Boatzi?
51:06 He was put under pressure by Aziz all the way through the fight,
51:09 but particularly in that ninth round, that 10th round,
51:11 but he held that technique together.
51:13 He found those shots towards the end,
51:16 and that was exactly the kind of fight,
51:18 the kind of performance that people have been waiting for him to produce.
51:22 OK, let's get the announcement, let's get the scores.
51:25 Nothing is over until it's over. Here's Big Mo.
51:28 Ladies and gentlemen, after 12 full rounds,
51:33 we go to the judges' scorecards for the official decision.
51:36 Judge Marcus McDonald scores at 116 to 110,
51:41 while judges Howard Foster and Michael Alexander score at 117 to 109.
51:47 Declaring your winner, and now the winner of the WBA Final Eliminator,
51:52 and now the mandatory for the WBA World Championship,
51:56 and the new British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Champion,
52:02 Joshua Boatzi!
52:08 Joshua Boatzi gets it.
52:12 Nine rounds to three with Howard Foster and Michael Alexander,
52:16 eight rounds to four with Marcus McDonald.
52:19 And those are a good set of cards.
52:22 As he doesn't get much change from the judges there,
52:25 but it maybe doesn't reflect the effort that he put into that fight,
52:28 how competitive he was, but from an early stage,
52:31 we felt like Boatzi was a head man.
52:34 was a head mark.