“DAN’S BEATEN A LOT OF THE TOP LIGHT-HEAVIES. THIS IS GOING TO BE TOUGH”
WHERE does Dan Azeez rank among your toughest opponents?
As this is the biggest fight, and a lot’s at stake, this is going to be number one. We’ve shared a ring many times as well, so it’s going to be number one, man.
‘Spider’ [Craig Richards, in 2022] was a different type of opponent; a taller man, someone I hadn’t sparred before, so that was a different threat. [In 2021, Ricards] Bolotniks was different because he’d come to England and knocked out a lot of the light-heavies, so that posed a threat in itself. But again, somebody I hadn’t shared the ring with. Dan I’ve shared the ring with. We’ve seen him also beat a lot of the light-heavies in England as well. He’s been on a good spin. I haven’t got in a [competitive] ring yet with him, but this is going to be the toughest one. I’ve had to prepare very hard for this.
He comes forward. He wants to get in there; he wants to make his presence known. He imposes himself on you.
You’ve often been described as friends. How well do you know each other?
I know Dan outside boxing as
