DAN Azeez is hardly inconspicuous. He's got a cheeky grin on his face, months removed from a 12-round majority decision defeat by Lewis Edmondson and now the 35-year-old patiently plots a resurgence in 2025 after losing titles and leverage over the past year.

During our conversation he's still busy celebrating a polished performance from friend and sparring partner Denzel Bentley (21-3-1, 17 KOs), who outpointed Brad Pauls on December 7 to reclaim British middleweight gold and add a European strap to his growing collection.

There's no news about a fight date for either man two-and-a-half months into the new year, though one has just defended his #1 ranking within a sanctioning body. The other is currently unranked by all four major bodies, finding himself on the outside looking in, stressing an eagerness to get back to prominence by any means necessary.

It's all about perspective for the Lewisham resident (20-2-1, 13 KOs), who hasn't won a fight for 19 months at the time of writing. The former EBU European, British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion knows time waits for no man in an ever-changing sport with a ruthless outlook on failure, no matter the circumstances.

Reflecting on the last twelve months, Azeez didn't sugarcoat it. "I've had a shocking year. Three fights, two losses and a draw. What's that? Not good enough," he tells The Ring.

Many insiders questioned the sensibility of Azeez boxing Croatia's rugged Hrvoje Sep (12-2-1, 9 KOs), barely four months after falling short against Joshua Buatsi in their BOXXER headliner for British and Commonwealth gold.

Sep, 38, entered their Selhurst Park matchup without fanfare but with a distinguished eight-year amateur career ending at the 2016 Olympics, giving Azeez all he could handle over eight gruelling rounds. Having been overwhelmed in a sluggish first-half, Azeez's inspired effort down the stretch saw him claw back a 76-76 draw.

Keeping in theme with that closely-contested encounter, Azeez felt hard done by after a MD12 defeat by Southampton's Lewis Edmondson (10-0, 3 KOs) four months ago. Despite the 29-year-old finishing strong in the final four rounds - having been deducted a point a round earlier - Azeez had built up a lead and probably done enough to bounce back from a pair of underwhelming displays.

Instead, The Saint moves on and now boxes Bristol-based Nigerian Oluwatosin Kejawa (11-0, 5 KOs) on Queensberry's Bournemouth bill, March 1.

"Honestly, I thought I won but if you leave it to the judges... it's open to discussion, so you can't really complain. They gave it to him and that's it, tried to get the rematch but they said no, we move on.

Among top active British light-heavyweights, Azeez and former foe Shakan Pitters are the oldest of the crop at 35. While Pitters will box Daniel Blenda Dos Santos for Azeez's old European title on April 4, the man who convincingly beat him in Liverpool two-and-a-half years ago is facing a rebuild many wouldn't stomach.

"I turned over [professional] when I was 28 or 29, my voice didn't break until I was 19, had facial hair a year later. I developed late so listen, I'm fine, still got a couple more years in me. I love boxing, even if I have to go to another country on a small-hall show and work my way back up, I will. I don't feel entitled, results speak for themselves and you get knocked back - that's life - I didn't envision winning the Southern Area title and look what I've won so far? I have to appreciate that, even when I'm feeling down."

Azeez speaks well about feeling at home, training down alongside Bentley and others at the Peacock Gym in east London - where IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois first cut his teeth in the paid ranks.

"They know me very well, it's important to have people who love and care about you, this game is tough and ruthless so you need people there for your interests, who want more for you than themselves, which is hard to find.

We've got all sorts down there, prospects, guys trying to break into the world scene and those at the top too, great sparring, loads of good coaches like Martin Bowers, one-time world title challenger Ovill McKenzie, Larry Ekundayo, an excellent environment."

There was concrete interest though proposed matchups against Craig Richards, Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde failed to materialise - the latter two have their trilogy on the Chris Eubank Jnr vs. Conor Benn undercard, April 26, while Richards (18-4-1, 11 KOs) can't afford another defeat and is Belfast-bound later this month as Padraig McCrory awaits March 1.

Azeez told talkSPORT before Christmas that his divisional compatriots are largely more interested in talking about crossroads fights rather than getting involved in them.

"It's all good fighting a European no-name but everyone's interested in fighters they know, so if we can find a good domestic dance partner, why not? I'm up for fighting anyone, Edmondson came because it was a name they put in the hat. If you think you're the best, go and prove it. I still think I'm one of the top boys out there and I'll prove it," he said at the time.

You only have to look at how quickly BOXXER-backed Ben Whittaker (8-0-1, 5 KOs) was widely criticised, or Zach Parker (26-1, 18 KOs) dismissed after one freak result for both domestically - albeit in differing circumstances - to see why the risk vs. reward debate is ever-present.

Parker hasn't been the same since fracturing his right hand four rounds into a world title eliminator against now-retired John Ryder, while Whittaker can banish some doubts of his true level when headlining Birmingham's bp pulse LIVE with the Liam Cameron rematch set for April 20.

Parker and former WBA world super-middleweight champion Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) now both campaign at 175-pounds, eager to prove there's still life left in them achieving success.

Smith boxes Azeez's friendly old foe Joshua Buatsi (19-0, 13 KOs) for the Croydon man's WBO interim world title as part of a stacked undercard preceding Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this weekend. Azeez acknowledges it's a difficult matchup and knows both very well, but is leaning one way and expects their clash will steal the show.

"It's a wicked fight, you've got two come-forward fighters and punchers... one hungry lion against a guy that's been there, done it and got the t-shirt. Callum's only lost against two undisputed champions [Canelo and Beterbiev], it'll definitely be fight of the night, as early as it is, maybe fight of the year contender.

Callum is a phenomenal fighter and underrated puncher, I've seen him live on the pads but will lean towards Joshua winning because he's the up-and-comer in a tough fight."