Doctors have cleared British and European light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez (20-0, 13KOs) to return to the ring following a back injury which curtailed his anticipated match-up with fellow Brit and promotional stablemate Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13KOs).
The contest, which was scheduled to be held on the 21st of October at London’s O2 Arena, was curtailed on the week of the contest and promoter Ben Shalom confirmed that the fight between the pair would be re-arranged for a later date.
Shalom confirmed to Sky Sports that Azeez the fight between the pair will be announced imminently.
“For me, the two biggest fights that we’ve had in this country this year have been Eubank-Smith, one and two, on British soil. For me, that [Buatsi vs Azeez] was the third biggest fight in this country,” Shalom said.
“The way it built, the interest it generated, and the devastation when it was off was felt across British boxing. I think that shows when you’ve got a real big fight, and I think it’s going to be all the bigger for it.
“Both fighters have had to endure a lot in terms of the delay in that fight. I’m just really excited for them getting back in the ring.
“That fight will be announced imminently.”
Speaking to the same source at the time of the postponement, Azeez thought he could fight through the injury but elaborated how the injury restricted his movement.
“I was having my last real hard session, and after the session, I could feel a pain in my lower back, and it got worse and worse from there,” Azeez previously told Sky Sports.
“I thought I would be able to take some painkillers, but the restriction, I couldn’t move the way I needed to move, both standing up and sitting down. I was not clear to box after that.
“I’ve been in fights where you get injuries. I thought it was just another niggle, and I had a few days until the fight, but it just got worse and worse to the point where I couldn’t move, and that’s when it was concerning for me.”
