Adam Azim is set to fight for the IBO world title this Saturday, and, after Dalton Smith won the European title just last week, now seems like the perfect time for a match-up between the pair.
Azim will face Sergey Lipinets at Wembley Arena this Saturday. The 12-0 prodigy seeks to capture his first major title following his win of the European title against Franck Petitijean three fights prior.
Dalton Smith on the other hand won the same European title against Walid Ouizza last weekend after blitzing the Frenchman in the opening round.
Azim, 22, holds an undefeated record with nine knockouts, with his latest outing seeing the Brit retire Ohara Davies via eighth-round stoppage. Smith, 27, has also yet to taste defeat, with 17 wins to his name, and 13 by knockout.
Azim has most recently suggested to Sky Sports that a win over Lipinets will be greater than any win of Smith’s career – “Look, my level is above you Dalton”.
- READ MORE: Top 10 highest-earning heavyweight boxers in the world include Usyk and Tyson Fury at No.2
Barry McGuigan doubtful of Dalton Smith’s ability
In an interview with TalkSport, Barry McGuigan, who, alongside his son Shane McGuigan, trains Azim, said of the Dalton Smith fight: “It only becomes sexy if one of them has a world title […] but at the moment it’s too early. I genuinely think certainly Adam can win a world title, there’s still a bit of a question mark over whether Dalton has that capacity as well”.
Eddie Hearn, who represents Dalton Smith, ridiculed McGuigan’s comments on Azim vs Smith needing world title stakes: “That’s what you say when you don’t fancy the fight.”
Hearn challenges Barry McGuigan: “If he didn’t have the capacity to win a world title, wouldn’t it be better to do it now? […] Adam Azim is going to get a career-high payday by some distance to take this fight.”
Three opponents Adam Azim’s team turned down for April
Hearn has been highly critical of Adam Azim’s team and has even likened Azim’s management to a car crash in an interview with iFL TV, after revealing the opponents Azim’s team turned down for the Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn undercard.
Azim was set to face Montana Love on April 26th, but due to contractual disagreements, Love pulled out of the fight. Queensberry and Matchroom then submitted an opponent each, but Boxxer are said to have rejected both opponents.
The opponents were 18-2 Sean McComb, who most recently found himself on the wrong side of an extremely controversial decision against Arnold Barboza Jr., and Pierce O’Leary, who is looking to fight for the European title following Smith’s vacating of the belt.