British boxing is buzzing with anticipation as two of its brightest stars, Tiah-Mai Ayton and Dan Azeez, prepare to make headlines in the ring. Ayton, the 19-year-old phenom from Bristol, is gearing up for her second professional bout, while Azeez, a seasoned light-heavyweight, is set to headline a major event in Lagos, Nigeria. Both fighters are at pivotal moments in their careers, each with a unique story and set of ambitions that have the boxing world watching closely.
Tiah-Mai Ayton’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After claiming victory in her professional debut with a stunning third-round stoppage in June 2025, Ayton has set her sights on an audacious goal: becoming the youngest ever undisputed champion in the four-belt era across both genders. The current benchmark was set by America’s Gabriela Fundora, who held all the world titles in the flyweight division at just 22 years old in November 2024. Ayton, undeterred by the enormity of the task, believes she can do even better.
"I could do that. I can definitely do that. That’s going to be a new challenge for me. I’ve got a long time," Ayton declared when told about Fundora’s achievement. She’s not just aiming to break records in one weight class. Her ambition stretches across four: bantamweight, super-bantamweight, featherweight, and super-featherweight. "I want to be undisputed in bantamweight and super-bantamweight and then it goes featherweight and super-featherweight. I want to do those four categories, and I want to be undisputed in all four. It’s high expectations but I think I can do it," she told reporters.
To put Ayton’s aspirations into context, only Claressa Shields has managed to hold all four world titles in three different weights. No one—not even the likes of Katie Taylor or Amanda Serrano—has done it in four. Ayton’s confidence isn’t just bravado; it’s backed by an extraordinary record. With over 300 fights spanning Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and boxing, she’s suffered just three defeats—all of which she later avenged. Her amateur pedigree is equally impressive: a five-time national youth champion, gold medalist at the 2024 amateur World Championships in Colorado (57kg), and winner of the televised Haringey Box Cup at the 60kg lightweight limit.
Ayton’s journey into combat sports began in an unexpected way. "It’s actually so silly," she laughed. "I started because me and my sister always used to fight all the time. My dad got us into kickboxing at the age of six, and I just carried it on from there. I’ve always known I’d be a fighter." That early spark led to a 21-0 amateur record and, ultimately, to her signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in May 2025. Hearn, who also promotes Katie Taylor, was impressed after Ayton sparred with former featherweight world champion Skye Nicolson at just 18 years old.
Despite being earmarked as a potential Great Britain Olympic prospect, Ayton chose the professional route, citing her preference for family life and the pro boxing style. "I had the opportunity to go with GB but I’m a family person and I love being with my family. I didn’t want to move away and move up to Sheffield," she explained. "I feel like the whole style of amateur just didn’t suit me. I just like getting in there and fighting. I like stopping people." That aggressive, finish-minded approach has become her trademark.
Pressure comes with the territory for someone touted as the future of women’s boxing. "Everyone has bigged me up and when people lose, they blame it on their coaches, so we had a lot of pressure on us," she said, recalling her pro debut. "I know what I’m capable of and he knows what I’m capable of. It’s just another day for me really. I’ve been fighting since I can remember. It’s just about winning, that’s all I care about." Yet, for all the attention and expectation, Ayton remains grounded. When asked what she’d buy with her first significant fight purse, she replied, "I want a farm. I want cows, sheep, goats and chickens. That’s my dream. I’ll just live a quiet life on my farm and then when I train, I’ll go into camp, and then go back and be peaceful."
Ayton’s immediate focus is her second professional fight, set for Saturday, September 6, 2025, against Lydie Bialic. With the rapid pace of women’s boxing—Nina Hughes, for example, won a world title in just her fifth pro fight—Ayton knows opportunities can come quickly. But she’s in no rush, content to let her skills and ambition do the talking.
While Ayton looks to the future, Dan Azeez is preparing for a homecoming of sorts. The 35-year-old light-heavyweight, born in London but fiercely proud of his Nigerian heritage, is set to fight on Nigerian soil for the first time on October 1, 2025—Nigerian Independence Day. The event, titled "Chaos in the Ring," will be staged at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos and has already generated significant buzz, with Azeez himself taking to social media to promote the occasion. "The Return of the Super. Dan Azeez comes home to fight in Lagos on Nigerian Independence Day," he announced in a statement accompanying a promotional video.
Azeez’s career has been marked by grit and persistence. Since turning professional in March 2018, he’s compiled a record of 20 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, with 13 of those victories coming by knockout. His reputation as a formidable presence in the light-heavyweight division is well earned. The Lagos event will also feature other international bouts, including a showcase for Ghanaian star Elvis Ahorgah, adding further excitement to the night.
This isn’t Azeez’s first visit to Nigeria, but it will be his first time competing there. Earlier in 2025, he spent time in Lagos, connecting with local youth and sharing his experience with aspiring boxers. He described Iyana Ipaja, a neighborhood in Lagos State, as a "Ghetto," highlighting both the challenges and the vibrant spirit of the area. Azeez’s embrace of his roots has endeared him to fans both in the UK and Nigeria, and his return to fight in Lagos is being celebrated as a major moment for Nigerian boxing.
As the countdown continues to these two pivotal fights, British boxing finds itself at the center of the global stage. Ayton’s quest for history and Azeez’s homecoming bout in Lagos are reminders of the sport’s power to inspire, connect, and surprise. With Ayton’s second pro fight just around the corner and Azeez’s Nigerian debut set for October, fans have plenty to look forward to—and plenty of reasons to believe that British boxing’s next great chapter is already being written.
Whether it’s Ayton chasing records or Azeez returning to his roots, the coming weeks promise drama, ambition, and, above all, a celebration of the fighting spirit that defines the sport. The eyes of the boxing world will be watching closely as these two stars step into the ring once more.
