Craig Richards marked Matchroom's first event in west Africa with a 12th-round knockout victory over south London rival Dan Azeez in Ghana.

The 35-year-old was on the losing side of Matchroom's damaging 5-0 defeat to Queensberry in June 2024, dropping a wide decision to Willy Hutchinson in Saudi Arabia.

But he more than made up for it Saturday night by stopping Azeez at Legon Sports Stadium in front of 18,000, in what was a marquee event for his promoters in Accra, live on DAZN.

The fight was relatively close heading into the final two rounds, but an emphatic left hook ended things abruptly just 30 seconds into the 12th.

The opening couple of rounds were cagey but it was Azeez who got the better of them, repeatedly jabbing Richards over his opponent's low guard.

Both would have their success in the next two rounds, particularly Richards, who landed with a meaty right hand at the end of the fourth.

In the fifth, Azeez landed the best combination of the fight, a sharp one-two which Richards would try to get back by throwing shots from all angles that didn't score.

Round 6 was the most action-packed yet, with Richards landing a right uppercut which caught his man's attention. Azeez, though, would also connect jabs and the odd right hand of his own.

Richards went to the body early in the seventh, but at the end of the round he looked like he was feeling the pace after a multi-punch exchange between the pair which Azeez, who landed big with his left, got the upper hand.

Azeez returned to sticking the jab at the beginning of the eighth, but Richards would come back with an overhand right of his own. Both also scored with left hooks and looked like they were beginning to flag.

Richards had his best round in the ninth, connecting with a big one-two which stumbled Azeez back onto the ropes. As Azeez tried to make amends, he would eat another right before making a meek walk back to his corner.

The 10th was another damaging round for Azeez, who took a big right uppercut from Richards on the inside and received a big one-two moments later. Richards would also land with the jab consistently, to the head and body.

The penultimate round was again strong for Richards, and though Azeez would try to get his legs going again after a difficult ninth and 10th rounds, he shipped more punishment.

And it all came to a head for Azeez in the final round as Richards connected with aright hand before following up with a left hook to knock his opponent flat on his back on the canvas, with the referee waving it off almost immediately.