Boxing: Adam Azim stops Franck Petitjean to win European light-welterweight title
- Published
Adam Azim wins his first senior title as a professional
Briton Adam Azim is the new European light-welterweight champion after stopping Franck Petitjean in round ten of their fight in Wolverhampton.
The 21-year-old rising star produced an empathic performance, dropping the defending champion in the fifth with a body shot.
Petitjean, 35, beat the count but his corner threw in the towel in the tenth after he went for a second time.
Azim improves his record to 10 wins and seven stoppages.
The Englishman hopes to emulate his idol Amir Khan by becoming a world champion by the age of 22. He will turn 22 next July.
"I'm feeling amazing," Azim said after the win.
"I want to thank my team and the main man Shane McGuigan for getting me to this point.
"He [Petitjean] was really tough, I knew I couldn't stop him in the early rounds, this was a development fight for me. I had to chop the tree down and I did that.
"I could have gone another 15 rounds then."
On the undercard Richard Riakporhe maintained his unbeaten record with a switch knockout of Frenchman Dylan Bregeon.
Riakporhe needed less than two rounds to beat Bregeon, dropping him with a straight right hand before the towel came in.
Extending his record to 17-0, Riakporhe hopes to earn a world title shot in 2024 against former opponent and reigning WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith.
"I'm different, I've changed. I've been working with [coach] Angel Fernandez and he's made me realise that in here I'm a totally different animal. I send a message to everybody," said Riakporhe.
"Once I let those hands go it's over. I only need two shots."
He added: "When I first started I was infatuated by the attention and glamour, but I've switched my mindset.
"My coach said, 'you have everything to go to the top and dominate'.
"You're going to see better and better opponents."
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- Published14 January
