Adam Azim needed just 66 seconds to stop Anthony Loffet and claim the WBC Youth Inter-Continental super-lightweight title.
Azim was stepping into his first scheduled 10-rounder in only his fifth professional contest against Loffet, but did not even need a half a round to complete the job on his Belgium opponent.
He pounced on Loffet and dropped him before half a minute was up. He showed the right hand before bringing through a tremendous left uppercut. That hurt Loffet. Azim saw it and stepped in with two more right hooks to put Loffet down.
Those had hit with real spite. Loffet rose only uneasily.
Azim resumed his attack with spectacular speed. He blasted Loffet with repeated right hooks, shaking him, hurting him.
The towel soon flew in from Loffet’s corner and when the referee saw it he ended the bout, sparing Loffet from an inevitable, brutal finish.
Azim’s celebration was almost as spectacular. He cartwheeled across the ring before launching into his now trademark backflip.
Adam Azim celebrates his rapid win.
“This is the first of many,” the 20-year-old from Slough said afterwards. “If anyone gives me the first shot and I land it straight away, you’re getting hurt straightaway.
“I want so many other titles, I’m going to grab them with both hands.”
Azim’s promoter Ben Shalom declared, “He is the future of British boxing.”
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Adam Azim joins Anna Woolhouse, Amir Khan and Johnny Nelson after his stunning first-round stoppage of Anthony Loffett.
On the undercard local hero Dylan Cheema had an unexpectedly hard four rounder with Stu “Little Canelo” Greener. The latter caught him and took a round off Coventry’s popular Cheema, the winner of a recent BOXXER Series tournament, but nevertheless Cheema prevailed, winning 39-37.
Cheema is still an opponent who’s caught Azim’s eye. “I love that fight,” Azim said. “If Cheema wants it, he can have it.”
Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall made her professional debut on this BOXXER Breakthrough event. It was an assured outing against veteran Vaida Masiokaite as Artingstall brought her power punches to bear and took an impressive six round points win.
