Adam Azim goes for the vacant IBO super lightweight title against former world champion, Sergey Lipinets at the OVO Arena in Wembley on Saturday.
Ben Shalom’s BOXXER promote Azim vs Lipinets and the card is live on Sky Sports in the UK and on Peacock in the USA.
Azim (12-0, 9 KOs) saw his star rise sharply in 2022 after a series of stunning early wins, but 2023 then turned into a learning year for the man from Slough, as he went ten rounds in two consecutive contests before taking the European title with a tenth round stoppage of Franck Petitjean to round out the year.
After defending with a fifth round win against Enock Poulsen, ‘The Assassin’ then stepped up in class against Ohara Davies last October, and passed that test with flying colours, scoring an emphatic eighth round knockout victory.
Lipinets (18-3-1, 13 KOs) briefly reigned as IBF champion from 2017 to 2018, but lost on the cards in his first defence to Mikey Garcia.
After a draw with Custio Clayton for the interim IBF belt, the ‘Samurai’ was then knocked out in six by Jaron Ennis in April 2021, and was outscored by Michel Rivera in November 2023, but he is coming off a ten round decision nod against Robbie Davies Jr in May last year.
Prediction: Azim could well be on track to crack the top level at 140 pounds this year, but Lipinets may prove a tough test for him. After a few early puzzles to solve, the 22-year-old can come out on top via clear decision win to take the title.
Simpson returns against Ahorgah
On the undercard, Callum Simpson is out again just three weeks after boxing last, and he defends his Commonwealth super middleweight title against Ghana’s Elvis Ahorgah.
Simpson (16-0, 11 KOs) blasted out Steed Woodall in two rounds in his last contest to defend his British and Commonwealth titles, and he ticks over as he looks towards a stadium fight at his beloved Barnsley FC later this year.
Ahorgah (13-2, 12 KOs) has never fought outside of Africa, and fought four times in 2024, beginning with a stoppage loss to Hasan Mwakinyo in January.
The 24-year-old won three in a row after that, but all against boxers with losing records.
Prediction: Simpson is heavy-handed, and I can’t see this one lasting long. The champion should be able to retain within the first half of this contest.
Remaining Undercard
Jeamie TKV (7-1, 4 KOs) is on the bill, and the heavyweight novice should be tested by Michael Webster (10-2, 6 KOs), but should be able to get the job done inside the ten round distance.
Scott Forrest (7-0, 4 KOs) was another in action on the same bill as Simpson at the start of January, and the Scottish cruiserweight can take out unbeaten Aurel Ignat (8-0, 7 KOs) before the end of their scheduled eight rounder.
Also in eight round action, welterweight hope Joel Kodua (7-0) can bank another points win, this time against Lloyd Germain (9-2, 1 KO).
View this post on Instagram
In six rounders, Lucas Roehrig (1-0, 1 KOs), can take his cruiserweight clash with Milosav Savic (9-8-1, 7 KOs) via stoppage, and at super flyweight, Alfie Clegg (10-0-1, 2 KOs) should be a points winner against Sebastian Alejandro Castillo (7-4-1, 3 KOs).
In four round affairs, Hassan Azim (7-0, 4 KOs) can win on points in his middleweight clash with Jensen Irving (4-19-2), and super middleweight prospect Garan Croft (1-0, 1 KO) can also triumph on the referee’s scorecard against Dmitri Protkunas (8-16-1, 1 KO).
