Why it's do-or-die for Craig Richards and Dan Azeez in Ghana

New ground is broken for Matchroom Boxing tonight with Eddie Hearn's promotion set to stage its first ever event in Africa.

Taking place in Accara, Ghana, British light heavyweights Craig Richards and Dan Azeez will headline this historic card, live on DAZN, and it's a contest which has significant consequences. 

Neither man will concede that a defeat would signal the beginning of the end, or even retirement, but it's clear that with Richards and Azeez both on the wrong side of 30, a win will prolong their respective careers in an exciting light heavyweight division. 

Richards vs. Azeez loser stares retirement in the face

For Richards and Azeez, perhaps all the fanfare and ceremony which will come with Matchroom's first African event will be welcomed. 

It will allow both men to focus on the task at hand with the majority of the attention being placed on the event itself. 

Richards has been around the block, he's faced the likes of Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson on a British level, and also gave then-WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol a tough test in a unanimous decision loss four years ago. 

Whenever Richards has challenged domestic rivals he has come up short, and if he fails to beat Azeez then there will be questions as to how much longer he has left. 

Speaking at Thursday's final press conference, Richards acknowledged that he has experienced the ups and downs that come with boxing. 

"I’ve prepared diligently for this fight, I’ve got big aspirations in this sport," Richards said. "I’ve had ups and downs in the sport, and I’ve full circled and come together. I’m desperate to show the best version of me, push on, go out and win those world titles, and show how great I can be."

And while the dreaded word 'retirement' was not mentioned, it appeared to have dawned on Richards that a loss to Azeez would see these world title dreams vanish. 

"Saturday night’s that first step, and without Saturday night, all that doesn’t happen."

Azeez was the more aggressive man behind the mic. The former European champion claimed that this encounter with Richards was one he had been wanting for a long time. 

"Credit where credit’s due, Craig is a good competitor, he’s been there, he’s fought at world level, I’ve been wanting to fight him for a long time," Azeez told the world's media. "You’re going to see the best of me come December 20th."

Just like Richards, Azeez has suffered defeat when he too faced Buatsi last year, which also left questions as to whether he can mix it with the best at 175lbs.

It's easy to say it's a crossroads fight for Richards and Azeez, but with the British light heavyweight division going from strength to strength, both men are in danger of being left behind. 

The world title picture still needs clearing up when it comes to the status of Dmitry Bivol and WBC champion David Benavidez's move to cruiserweight, therefore those contenders on the fringes will look to manoeuvre themselves into a spot to challenge for major honours. 

Richards and Azeez will look to take one of those spots with a win in Ghana, but for whoever is the beaten man, then serious questions will need to be asked as to whether there is anything left in their respective boxing careers.

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