McGuigans focused on personal development of Adam Azim

Shane McGuigan has revealed the extent to which he and Boxxer are investing in Adam Azim’s development outside of the ring.

On Saturday at London’s Wembley Arena, the promising junior welterweight fights Sergey Lipinets, a proven veteran of contests with Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Mikey Garcia. 

Azim’s association with the McGuigans means it has become tempting to view Azim-Lipinets in the same context as when they matched Josh Taylor with Viktor Postol and Carl Frampton with Kiko Martinez – an occasion when they risk testing their fighter against an opponent proven among the finest in the world.

It is little coincidence that in the 35-year-old Lipinets, Azim will fight an opponent expected to provide his toughest test so far in the ring. In October 2024 Azim fought and defeated Ohara Davies – a less threatening opponent but one perhaps capable of unnerving someone as young as Azim, who also defended his European title before agreeing to fight Davies. 

“He held himself well in the media, with another guy [in Davies] talking shit to him,” McGuigan said to BoxingScene ahead of Saturday’s fight with Kazakhstan’s Lipinets. “These are all experiences you have to get over. Slandering you and stuff like that, in fight week. That’s an experience – tick that box, go on to the next. 

“So it’s not just like, when you go into a big fight – there’s a 50-50 fight – you’ve got to be exposed to not just a foreign opponent coming in and getting a pay cheque. You’ve got to get guys that are relevant and want to talk, and that’s a good thing.”