Spotlight: Criag Richards and Dan Azeez bring a stacked fight card to Africa

Saturday, December 20th, boxing fans around the world will witness Matchroom’s first-ever steps onto African soil at Legon Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana. With Craig Richards and Dan Azeez bringing the spotlight to a night, a stacked undercard will unfold before them to make this one of the most exciting nights for the country and the sport.

UK to Ghana

The main card of the night pits two seasoned British boxers against each other. Both warriors hail from South London, bringing their skillset as well as shared history into the ring.

Craig “Spider” Richards, age 35, has an orthodox style with a strong jab and decent length advantage in this bout. Standing at 6 '1”, Richards has competed at the top of the light heavyweight division for years (fighting against Bivol for a title shot in 2021), winning regional titles including the British and WBA International belts.

Dan “Super” Azeez, age 36, is an orthodox pressure-forward fighter. He’s captured every major British Boxing Board of Control, British Commonwealth, and European titles at various points in his career - known for his grit, work ethic, and ability to grind on the inside.

This fight will be Richards’ length and tactical approach in contrast to Azeez’s aggression and pressure. Will Richards be able to keep the fight at length and use the right angles, or will Azeez fight through the trenches and throw in volume to make this a dog fight?

Worldwide competition

One of the most exciting undercard bouts features Ghana’s own undefeated Theophilous Allotey against Filipino veteran Jayr “The Dreamer” Raquinel.

Theo, 23, is one of Ghana’s brightest young prospects - collecting multiple regional titles (WBO Africa, UBO, and national belts) and representing Ghana internationally at the 2024 Olympics. He’s a highly motivated fighter with power and technique, coming into this next bout with an undefeated 12 wins.

The Dreamer, 28, is a Filipino southpaw veteran with a 77% KO rate. He’s held regional titles (WBO Inter-Continental and WBC Continental Americas belts), all thanks to his tactical fighting style and making orthodox fighters awkward in the ring with him.

Youthful energy facing off against a seasoned vet, a classic tale of fighting. Will it be Theo’s young discipline or Jayr’s experience?

From Ghana to the world stage

In this last, but not final, bout, both fighters arrive undefeated. Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah vs. Jonathan “Worldwide” Tetteh promises to be a potential breakout moment for either of these fighters - having neither of the two knowing the taste of defeat, this will be a huge step for their careers, especially on a global stage like Accra.

Gyimah, age 36, comes out of the Ghanaian and UK boxing scene and has been a busy and destructive light heavyweight with an even busier KO rate. He’s built his record and reputation by overwhelming opponents early and enforcing pressure.

Tetteh is a Ghanaian light heavyweight rising through the ranks. With an undefeated record, Jonathan uses his speed and power to garner attention locally as a promising slugger in the sport, with most of his fights rarely going the distance.

This bout is a power vs. power matchup - two undefeated Ghanaian light heavyweight warriors meeting in what’s expected to be one of the most explosive fights on the entire card. With neither fighter lacking confidence in their ability, the early rounds of this match will define the pace for the fights to come. 

A spotlight for the entire card

This card blends veteran experience, rising stars, and national pride, especially for Ghanaian fighters. The main event serves as a global spotlight, while the undercard promises fireworks across styles and divisions.

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