Adam Azim is set to take a significant step in his boxing career as he prepares to face former world champion Sergey Lipinets this Saturday at the OVO Arena Wembley. The highly anticipated bout will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, marking a defining moment for Azim in the super-lightweight division.
Lipinets will be the most experienced and decorated opponent Azim has faced to date, providing the young star from Slough with a crucial test. With ambitions of cementing his place among the elite in the division, Azim is eager to showcase his skills and prove he belongs at the top level.
Azim vs. Dalton Smith: A Brewing Rivalry
Azim’s rise has been frequently compared to that of fellow British fighter Dalton Smith. Just last Saturday, Smith knocked out Walid Ouizza in the first round to claim the European title, a belt that previously belonged to Azim. Despite Smith’s success, Azim believes that defeating Lipinets will be a more impressive achievement than any of Smith’s victories so far.
“Most definitely,” Azim told Sky Sports when asked whether beating Lipinets would surpass Smith’s resume. “You’ve got [Jose] Zepeda there, but Sergey Lipinets has been in with better opposition than Zepeda.”
While Azim acknowledged Smith’s strong performance against Ouizza, he was unimpressed by the level of opposition. “The majority of people don’t know who he was,” Azim said of Ouizza. “It was like one of the fighters I fought, Anthony Loffet. I had to search out who he was. No one knew who he was.
“But look, he [Smith] got the job done. I thought he boxed really well in the first round. You can’t take much from that, but it’s good because it keeps our fight marinating.”
Azim’s Focus Remains on Lipinets
Despite ongoing speculation about a potential showdown with Smith, Azim remains fully focused on the challenge ahead. “Everyone’s talking about me straight after the fight. Dalton wasn’t talking much about me, but the people around him were. At least they’re talking about me—it’s like I’m living in their heads rent-free, so it’s good.”
Azim insists he has no fear of facing Smith but wants to take care of business against Lipinets first. “I think it’s in his team’s head. Dalton doesn’t really say much, but it would be nice if he did. I don’t fear any fight. When I do fight him, then we’ll see what happens. Right now, my main focus is on Saturday.”
Azim is also mindful of staying active throughout 2025, planning at least two more fights after Lipinets. “I leave that till after the fight’s done, but hopefully, if it’s not April, then May or June for the next fight. It could be June, then I could fight again in October. Three times would be ideal for this year.”
Upcoming Boxing Events on Sky Sports
Boxing fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming months, with several major fights lined up across different weight classes. Here are some of the key matchups:
Saturday, February 1 – Wembley Arena, London
Main Event: Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets
Sunday, February 15 – Madison Square Garden Theater, New York
Main Event: Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis (WBO lightweight title)
Saturday, February 22 – Kingdom Arena, Riyadh (Sky Sports Box Office)
- Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker (IBF heavyweight eliminator)
- Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol (Undisputed light-heavyweight title – WBC, WBA, WBO & IBF)
- Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith (WBO Interim light-heavyweight title)
- Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (WBC middleweight title)
- Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel (WBC Interim heavyweight title)
- Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield (WBC lightweight title)
- Vergil Ortiz vs. Israil Madrimov (WBC Interim super-welterweight title)
Monday, February 24 – Ariake Arena, Tokyo
- Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar (WBO bantamweight title)
- Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Jason Moloney
Friday, March 7 – Royal Albert Hall, London
- Natasha Jonas vs. Lauren Price (IBF, WBC & WBA welterweight titles)
Conclusion
Adam Azim’s clash with Sergey Lipinets represents a pivotal moment in his career. A win over the former world champion would solidify his standing as one of the top rising stars in the super-lightweight division and set the stage for future high-profile fights, possibly including a showdown with Dalton Smith. With boxing fans eagerly awaiting the outcome, all eyes will be on Wembley Arena this Saturday night.
