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AZIM SEALS DOMINANT PERFORMANCE WITH DECISIVE LATE STOPPAGE AGAINST SCOBY

Adam Azim remains undefeated, stopping a game Kurt Scoby in the 12th round. The dominant performance sets the junior welterweight contender up for a potential future clash with domestic rival Dalton Smith.

Azim seals dominant performance with decisive late stoppage against Scoby
Adam Azim drops, stops Kurt Scoby in final round - COURTESY/PHOTO

There are several positive aspects of Adam Azim's quick and fluid work as a junior welterweight contender.

After stopping a game against rugged Kurt Scoby in the 12th round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, he will now be focusing on the January bout between domestic rival Dalton Smith and Subriel Matias in New York.

Azim defeated a fighter who had been trying to get inside his mind all week with a dominant and controlled performance, improving to 14-0 (11 KOs).

However, Shane McGuigan-trained Azim maintained his composure. Similar to stablemate Chris Billam-Smith, who had been irritated by Brandon Glanton earlier in the year, Azim let his fists speak for him as Scoby lost 18-2 (16 KOs).

Azim started his quick retort right away. There was not much coming back from the Americans at the beginning, and Scoby had his gloves by his ears. Knowing that Azim's hands would be returning toward him, Scoby was only reluctantly throwing when Azim began firing a right to the body in the second.

Before round three, Scoby was advised in the corner, "I need you to attack a little bit more." He opened the third with a clean right hand that clipped Azim's jaw.

Azim was picking the better performances, including a left to the body in the fourth and a left uppercut in the fifth, but the heavily-muscled Scoby paid attention and had a stronger third round.

Before the sixth, trainer McGuigan advised Azim to remain calm and collected because he had not won a round. "It is better for you the more he pushes it."

Ben Shalom of Boxxer promoted Slough's Azim, who was dominant in that round thanks to his precise and hazy jab.

Azim only began to throw more when the action resumed, landing a left hook to the body and a left hook upstairs shortly after, making Scoby's mission all but impossible after he was penalised a point for clubbing Azim on the back of the head in the eighth.

Scoby’s production was reduced to rare single blows, but Azim was flowing forward and peppering the very durable American with jabs and lefts into his body. Azim was a mile down on points when Scoby waved him in during the ninth, but it was just gamesmanship.

At that time, it was one-sided but not a beating. Azim knew he had it in the bag from the beginning, and Scoby had not won a minute of a round.

When Scoby launched a left hook in the 11th, Azim crashed into his right hand, forcing Scoby to hold and struggle through the ensuing fog. However, Scoby survived the session, and it is safe to say that by then, he was no longer beckoning Azim in.

Azim demonstrated in the 12th that he was not in the mood to let Scoby get away with it. This week, Scoby had been berating Azim, arguing with him at the press conference, confronting him at the hotel, and at the public workout.

Azim turned the screws to do this, rather than just relaxing. Scoby could only drop to one knee as he fired with both fists, truly beginning to break him apart with a stunning variety. Referee Howard Foster called it off after 2-01 of the 12th, although he rose unhappy.

ANTHONY JOSHUA "SCREAMING IN PAIN" AS FATAL LEXUS WRECK KILLS TWO CLOSE FRIENDS

Heavyweight Anthony Joshua is stable in a Lagos hospital after a fatal Lexus crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway killed two friends.

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Matchroom Boxing confirms deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele

After a brutal car wreck in Nigeria that killed two of his buddies, Anthony Joshua reportedly cried out in pain. He's spending New Year's Eve in a fancy Nigerian hospital.

Joshua, the champ, was riding in a black Lexus that crashed into a parked truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria.

Sadly, two of his longtime friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, didn't make it. Two other people in the car survived.

Sources close to Joshua say he'll be in the hospital for at least a couple more days. Insiders say he was screaming in pain as they pulled him from the wrecked car.

Someone at the scene caught footage of the boxer grimacing before he was put in a police car.

After the crash, Joshua was rushed to Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, which is considered the best private hospital in Nigeria.

Local police told Daily Mail Sport that Joshua is stable with only minor injuries, but there's worry that they could be worse than people are saying.

Police say the car crash happened because of a tyre blowout that made Joshua's Lexus spin out of control.

The Telegraph says traffic police think the car was going too fast (over 50 mph) and lost control while trying to pass another car on a road that locals say is super dangerous.

Babatunde Akinbiyi, a police commander, said the car's tyre blew out because it was going way too fast.

An eyewitness told the Punch newspaper, "There were two cars: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV."

Joshua was sitting behind the driver, with someone else next to him. Another person was sitting next to the driver, so there were four people in the Lexus that crashed. His security was in the car behind them.

Other people and I helped rescue them and flagged down cars to help. A few minutes later, the Federal Road Safety Corps showed up.

Nigeria's president said that Joshua's mom, Yeta Odusanya, rushed to the hospital to be with him after she heard about the crash.

The hospital has a fancy service called the Harley Street Practice on the sixth floor, with Royal Suites for VIP patients.

Patients get personal care around the clock and access to medical and hospitality staff. They also get gourmet meals made just for them.

The basic Royal Suite with a bathroom starts at £2,000.

Joshua's representative put out a statement confirming the deaths of his two team members and close friends:

It's with deep sadness that we have to say that Sina Ghami and Kevin Lateef Ayodele died in a car accident in Lagos, Nigeria, earlier today.

They were close friends and important members of Anthony's team.

Please give their families space and privacy as they deal with this shocking news.

Anthony was hurt in the accident and taken to the hospital for checks and treatment. He's stable and will stay there for observation.

We won't be sharing any more information right now.

Joshua's rival, Tyson Fury, honoured the two men who died in the crash in an Instagram post:

"This is so sad," wrote Fury. May God give them a good place in heaven.

The crash happened at midday, just 10 days after Joshua beat Jake Paul in Miami.

The Daily Mail said that Joshua was visiting family in Nigeria for a week before starting training for a fight in late March, probably in Saudi Arabia against Rico Verhoeven, before a possible fight with Fury in September or October.

Even though we don't know exactly how badly Joshua is hurt, it's not likely he'll be ready to fight soon. There's also the emotional stuff he'll have to deal with after the accident that killed two other people in the car.

BETTER THAN THE GOATS? HOW TERENCE CRAWFORD’S THREE-DIVISION UNDISPUTED RECORD CHANGES BOXING HISTORY FOREVER

Terence Crawford retires a perfect 42-0. Andre Ward hails the Omaha native as an all-time great after his win over Canelo Alvarez.

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Andre Ward labels Terence Crawford "one of the best of all-time."

Terence Crawford's been getting tons of love since he stepped away from boxing. Lots of folks are calling the Omaha guy one of the best. He beat pretty much everyone and hardly ever looked like he was in trouble.

He's had some big wins these last few years, like against Errol Spence Jr., Israil Madrimov, and Canelo Alvarez. It's hard to say anything bad about Crawford. Andre Ward, the former champ in two weight classes, recently gave his thoughts on Crawford and his win over Canelo when he was chatting with Carl Froch on Froch on Fighting.

Carl Froch asked Andre Ward what he thought about Terence Crawford retiring: I dig it. What else is there to do? How much cash does anyone even need? How many more training camps? How many more punches? Ward replied.

When asked what he thinks of Crawford as a fighter, Ward said, For sure, he's one of the best.

Carl Froch then gave props to Crawford but said he thought Crawford vs. Canelo would be closer. Ward then broke down the fight: Crawford was just too much. He was ready. He wanted that win. He didn't want to lose like that. You get in there, and he's better than Canelo thought. "He's stronger, and he hits harder too," said Ward.

Terence Crawford's Legacy

When fans look back on Terence Crawford’s career, they'll probably remember the Spence and Canelo wins. But people should always talk about Crawford's skill set.

He was a great switch-hitter who could figure opponents out mid-fight and switch things up. His counterpunching and power helped him beat tough guys like Ricky Burns and Viktor Postol. His win over Spence was a total beatdown of another great fighter. Crawford was just too fast and accurate; Spence Jr. hasn't fought since.

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) retired at the top and will always be mentioned with the legends like Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

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