Dan Azeez Next Fight Confirmed

Dan Azeez Next Fight Confirmed As First Defence Of British Title

Unbeaten Light Heavyweight, London’s Dan Azeez (16-0, 11 KOs) will make the maiden defence of his British Title against mandatory challenger and former British champion, Birmingham’s Shakan Pitters (17-1, 6KOs) on September 3 at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. Azeez vs Pitters will be on the undercard of a Liam Smith headlined BOXXER on Sky Sports Boxing card.

Also on this card, we will see the return of one of the top prospects and rising stars in British boxing in Adam Azim who will have his sixth professional contest. There is no opponent for Azim yet. Liam Smith will face Tanzanian Hassan Mwakinyo (20-2) as his first fight in his new BOXXER/Sky deal.

Dan Azeez vs Shakan Pitters Breakdwon

Dan Azeez prides himself in being a bit of a throwback fighter doing everything the hard way. Azeez started out on small-hall shows and won Southern Area, English and British titles before being signed by BOXXER/Sky Sports. Azeez first jumped onto the scene when he beat Charlie Duffield (7-1) for the Southern Area title on the Whyte Rivas PPV Card in 2019. He followed that up by claiming the English title the same year with a win over unbeaten Lawrence Osueke on a lower profile Sky Sports show.

Azeez has continued his attack on the domestic scene post-pandemic beating four British rivals in the space of 18 months including Andre Sterling and Ricky Summers on MTK shows before getting another opportunity on Sky last November when he stopped Hosea Burton in seven for the vacant British title. Azeez has been calling for big domestic fights since winning the Lonsdale belt and now gets his opportunity against somebody just outside the top 5 domestically.

Shakan Pitters also has held both English and British titles at this weight, winning the former against gatekeeper Dec Spelman in 2019. Pitters outpointed Chad Sugden for the vacant British title in 2020 on Channel 5. However, Pitters lost his first defence to underdog Craig Richards that same year via stoppage in an exciting, competitive fight. Since then Pitters has picked up 3 wins including a common opponent with Azeez in Reece Cartwright. Both men stopped Cartwright in eight after struggling with him but it was Azeez’s victory that was more convincing.

Pitters at 6″6 is an excellent long-range boxer, a frame that Azeez has already prepared for and dominated in 6″5 Hosea Burton. Pitters is stronger than Burton at the weight though and won’t be bullied as easy. Azeez has struggled against good boxers in the past so this could be a difficult challenge for him but his relentless pressure and work rate could be too much for Pitters down the stretch. Either way, an intriguing British title fight coming to Liverpool.

By Darshan Desai

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