Activity and consistency is the key for Adam Azim in 2025, having promised to produce an emphatic display and announce himself on the world scene at 140-pounds when facing former IBF world light-welterweight titleholder Sergey Lipinets with the IBO world title available in BOXXER’s headliner on Feb. 1.
Azim fancies his chances of making another statement
AFTER an eight-month absence worsened by a freak ankle injury suffered during Ramadan last year, the 22-year-old has a second fight in three-and-a-half months after an eighth-round stoppage vs. former gymmate Ohara Davies on October 19.
Davies, 32, announced his immediate retirement from the sport after a fourth career defeat and Azim is confident history will repeat itself next month.
“I’m looking forward to this fight. It’s going to be a huge breakthrough for me, where I announce myself onto the world scene. All due respect to him, I’m going to end his career,” he told media at Wednesday’s presser in Central London.
The unbeaten contender bids to win IBO world gold at 140lbs against a well-seasoned veteran, headlining a BOXXER show on Sky Sports for the fifth time as a pro next month. Lipinets (18-3-1, 13 KO) has fallen short among elite names multiple times in the past half-decade, most notably against Mikey Garcia and Jaron Ennis.
Yet in his mid-30s and riding the high from outpointing Azim’s former gymmate Robbie Davies Jr, Azim’s promoter Ben Shalom warned the well-travelled Kazakh has the style to pose a serious threat if underestimated after Azim’s career-best night.
Azim’s trainer Shane McGuigan echoed that sentiment while stressing what he’d been seeing from his charge in the gym was like no other.
McGuigan with high praise indeed: “What I’m seeing in the gym is phenomenal, frightening, he’s looking sensational. I’ve never seen a fighter like that up close. I think it’s the perfect fight, Sergey is 35 but still fresh, can punch, comes forward and it’s a statement.”
As a carefully curated highlights package from Lipinets’ 10-round decision win last May flashed up on screen behind them, some of his quotes – namely Azim’s inexperience – were read out and the Slough-born rising star responded bullishly.
“They all say I haven’t got their experience, I’ve got the best trainer in the game, best people around me, what more do I need? I’m fully focused, I like all this press conference stuff but just wanna get into the ring, it’s deadly mode when I get in there,” Azim warned.
He predicted a knockout inside the first five rounds, while dismissing the link between Lipinets and impending WBC middleweight world title challenger Hamzah Sheeraz, who share a gym in California.
Sheeraz (21-0, 17 KOs) is a family friend and Azim refused to get into specifics about whether they’ve shared intel or had any awkward conversations recently, saying the 25-year-old cannot fight for him.
This matchup is a far cry from Harlem Eubank (20-0, 8 KOs), now campaigning at welterweight after their proposed summer bout fell through, while his Matchroom-backed rival Dalton Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) boxes Walid Ouizza on January 25 for European honours Azim memorably vacated last April to much fanfare.
Yet both domestic names will continue marinating behind-the-scenes as many insiders remain confident 2025 will prove Azim’s breakout year at world level.
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 