Adam Azim is already eyeing the scalp of former junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis after his fight with Ohara Davies this Saturday at London’s Copper Box Arena.
Azim, still only 22, has breezed through his opposition so far, picking up the European title in just his 10th fight. He will, however, take his biggest step up to date when he faces Davies, a fighter who has boxed the likes of former undisputed 140-pound champions Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.
Azim has watched Davies’ career with a close eye after they spent time together in the Peacock Boxing Gym when the pair were amateurs. Azim is respectful of his former stablemate and friend Davies but insists he will strictly be an opponent on fight night.
“It’s a big, massive fight, but I’ve got respect for him,” Azim told BoxingScene. “I’ve got respect for him before the fight, I’ll have respect for him after the fight. But when the lights switch on, I switch on – I’m in to fight mode.
“He’s always still an opponent to me, he’s also a friend to me, but look, I’m always switched on. I’m fighting like he’s got a world title.”
Davies was considered one of the leading contenders in the junior welterweight division before he suffered a stunning stoppage defeat to Ismael Barroso earlier this year. Davies was caught with a huge left hand and stopped in the first round. Azim, however, isn’t looking into that performance too much.
“I can’t really take nothing from that fight,” said Azim. “Anything can happen in boxing, he fought a former world champion and got clipped. Anything can happen in the sport, if you get caught clean then there are consequences.”
Azim has been linked with a potential domestic dust-up with fellow 140-pound prospect Dalton Smith since the pair were mandated to fight each other for the British and European titles. The bout was not made, but Azim is refusing to rule out a future fight.
“After Ohara Davies, I can’t look past that,” he said. “He can wait his turn. The fight is going to happen. I’ll probably talk more after the Ohara Davies fight, I don’t want to say much yet because I’m not looking past Ohara.”
Azim will have one eye on another big fight in his division next Saturday when fellow Briton Jack Catterall takes on former world champion Regis Prograis in Manchester. Azim is open to a fight against both men eventually and even revealed he would be happy to face Prograis next.
“Jack Catterall, I think will beat Regis Prograis on points, he could even stop him,” Azim said. “Devin Haney kind of broke him down and beat him quite easily, and I think Jack Catterall will do the same thing.
“Regis would be a good name [to have on my record], Catterall would be a good name one day when I’m ready to step up. Regis is definitely a good name, that could be after this, maybe after Ohara Davies I could fight Regis. There are a few super lightweights who are former world champions I could fight.”
Read the full article here
