Caroline Dubois continues professional career with stunning stoppage victory over Martina Horgasz; Adam Azim produced another stunning knockout against Connor Marsden; British light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez delivers emphatic late stoppage against Reece Cartwright
Saturday 26 March 2022 22:33, UK
Caroline Dubois and Adam Azim both delivered stunning first-round stoppages on Saturday at Wembley Arena as the young British prospects took impressive steps in their professional careers.
Appearing on the undercard of Richard Riakporhe's cruiserweight showdown with Deion Jumah, live on Sky Sports, Dubois and Azim, who are both trained by Shane McGuigan, produced performances to justify their billing as future world champions.
Dubois, making her second professional appearance, displayed her power with a ruthless display to claim the first stoppage of her pro career against Martina Horgasz.
After producing a convincing points victory on her pro debut in Cardiff last month, Dubois this time needed just 49 seconds to overcome her Hungarian opponent.
The 21-year-old immediately landed a series of punches to the head, before switching her attack to the body, with a thudding right hand leaving Horgasz unable to continue.
"It's crazy, it doesn't feel real to be honest," Dubois told Sky Sports.
"All week, and all camp, Shane has been working on body shots and sitting down on my punches."
Dubois moves to 2-0 as a professional, as she looks to follow up an amateur career that ended with a 37-3 record and saw her represent Team GB in Tokyo last year.
"What I see in the gym every day is an unbelievable talent," McGuigan said
"She is calm, has amazing vision, great punching power and good balance.
"You're going to see it all once she starts getting tested."
Azim's lightweight match-up with Connor Marsden was considered a significant step-up for the 20-year-old's fourth professional bout, but he made spectacularly quick work of his opponent.
It took 'The Assasin' just 12 seconds to put Marsden down, as a sharp right-left combo stunned the Londoner.
Marsden bravely returned to his feet, but Azim displayed his finishing instincts to close the show, landing an uppercut that sent his opponent to the canvas for the final time.
It was a third successive stoppage victory for Azim, after he was taken a full six rounds in his professional debut.
"It was a great performance by me," Azim told Sky Sports. "I never thought that I'd stop him in the first round, I thought I'd gradually break him down.
"After my inspiration Amir Khan, I want to be the next British-Pakistani world champion."
The high praise that McGuigan has given Azim has caused many to take notice of the Slough fighter early in his career, and the experienced trainer offered more bold predictions following Saturday's performance.
"I'm telling you he's the most special talent," McGuigan said. "He's got speed, he's got power, he just gets it.
"He said to me 'I want to be a world champion at the age of 21,' I think that's a little bit early but if we can aim for 22, why not."
British light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez produced an emphatic late stoppage to overcome a brave effort from Reece Cartwright.
Cartwright, who stepped in at short notice to take the fight, was able to compete with the champion in the early rounds, but Azeez's superior conditioning and power told as the contest reached its latter stages.
Azeez took control with a flurry of punches at the end of the sixth round, before dominating the seventh, and handing out consistent punishment in the eighth until Cartwright's corner finally threw in the towel, with many at ringside feeling the stoppage should have come earlier.
Azeez, who won the British title from Hosea Burton at Wembley Arena in November last year, once more displayed the attributes that make him an exciting contender in a highly competitive domestic division.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the fight, the unbeaten Azeez (16-0) said he was keen on taking on Commonwealth title holder Anthony Yarde.
"I've said I'd love to get the Commonwealth title, we know who's got that, Anthony Yarde," Azeez said. "I'd love to have domestic dust up with him if he's game.
"I'm up for anything, I'm in the division to fight all the top names and hopefully we can get them."
Elsewhere, Harry Scarff beat Louis Greene via unanimous decision over 10 rounds to become English welterweight champion.
The Derby fighter's superior reach and consistent landing of the jab helped him take the vacant title.
