Franck Petitjean vs Adam Azim press conference quotes
Photo Credit to BOXXER/ Lawrence Lustig. Free for editorial use.
European super-lightweight champion Franck Petitjean (24-6-3, 6 KO’s) travelled from Paris to London today for a face-off with British boxing’s brightest prospect, wonderkid Adam Azim (9-0, 6 KO’s), who aims to take his EBU title from him by force on November 18th when they clash in the main event of BOXXER: WOLVES AT THE DOOR.
The 21-year-old Azim and his opponent staged open workouts for the attending media before holding court for interview questions and face-off photos. They were joined today at Kensington Boxing Club, London by Tyler Denny, who will challenge EBU middleweight champion Matteo Signani next month.
Franck Petitjean European Super-Lightweight Champion
"Fighting in the UK is like a dream come true for me because boxing is so important here and we don't have that so much in France. So I'm very happy. It’s a big fight with a new big prospect. I'm at my best when my opposition is better. So I like it. And I boxed abroad before, I love it when I am the outsider.
"I'm not too impressed. He looks very good but who has he fought? He’s not yet faced anyone who has a good career, I am the first. I'm a good boxer. I know what I’ve achieved. I has a lot of hype but I'm a four-time champion of my country, two-time European champion. I have to show to everybody that I'm a real champion. He wants my belt, then he has to come forward and take risks."
Adam Azim European Super-Lightweight title challenger
"This fight is massive for me. The EBU European Championship is the next step towards winning a world title and I have to thank BOXXER and my trainer Shane McGuigan for getting me here.
"A win puts me in the world rankings and makes me a contender, it should ranked me inside the top ten in the world. Once you go up like this, you can’t go down. So first the European title, then maybe a couple of defences, then we go for the world title.
"I looked right into [Petitjean’s] eyes and said I’m taking this belt in Wolverhampton and I’m bringing it home with me. Obviously I respect him and his achievements but that’s not going to hold me back from taking this belt off him in November.
"I actually enjoy fighting southpaws, I know a lot of people don’t but I fought a lot of southpaws in my amateur days and did well against them. And most of the southpaws I fought in the amateurs went on to be European champions and world champions, so it was a good experience for me."
Tyler Denny EBU European Middleweight title challenger
"It's madness! There's too many people who want tickets from me, demand just keeps building and building. It’s the highest level I’ve fought and even thought I could have fought for a British title next, a European title is better in my eyes. It’s been worth the wait.
"100% we get a new European middleweight champion on November 18th. I told Matteo Signani just make sure you bring the belt with you because I need to take it home with me. I’m looking forward to it."
Petitjean vs Azim
Having been guided by BOXXER into a position to fight for the EBU title – a slot hotly contested by other British promoters – Azim is gunning for European gold in just his tenth professional bout. If victorious, he will follow in the footsteps of his oft-cited inspiration ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed in winning an EBU title while barely into his twenties and will catapult himself towards major world title contention.
After winning the French national championship and mounting three successful defences, southpaw Petitjean successfully stepped up to European level for his first stint as EBU super-lightweight level then challenged for the IBO world championship in 2018. He reclaimed the EBU title in June this year and will make the first defence of his second championship reign against Azim on November 18th.
Things you didn't know about Franck Petitjean
Wolves at the Door
BOXXER: WOLVES AT THE DOOR takes place Saturday, November 18th at The Halls, Wolverhampton and airs live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. Further bouts for the card will be announced in the near future.
The event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE and Village Hotels.
Sign up for presale tickets at BOXXER.com.
Article sponsored by HÖRFA