February 1: Adam Azim vs Sergey Lipinets
Adam Azim is ready to take it to another level as he faces former world champion Sergey Lipinets for the IBO World Super Lightweight Championship on Saturday, February 1st at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, presented by BOXXER, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.
Azim (12-0, 9 KOs) returns to the ring following an emphatic stoppage win over Ohara Davies on October 19th at the Copper Box Arena. The undefeated 22-year-old looked at his best as he dictated the action and dominated Davies from the opening bell, dropping the Londoner in the fifth-round before ending the fight in spectacular fashion in the eighth.
Having previously won and defended the European Title in record-time with victories over Franck Petitjean and Enock Poulsen, Azim steps up to world level as he aims to prove he is ready to take on the best in the division.
Lipinets (18-3-1, 13 KOs) is the former IBF World Super Lightweight Champion. The Kazakhstan-born fighter captured the IBF belt with a unanimous points win over Akihiro Kondo at the Brooklyn Center in November 2017.
The 35-year-old has since established himself as one of the top contenders in the super lightweight and welterweight divisions with notable victories over former world champions Lamont Peterson and Omar Figueroa Jr.
Lipinets’ latest bout was a ‘Fight Of The Year’ contender against Azim’s countryman and former gym mate Robbie Davies Jr. Lipinets scored a unanimous points win over the British boxer in a ten-round thriller, showcasing his power by sending Davies Jr to the canvas once in the fifth round and twice in the eighth.
Adam Azim said: “This fight is another step up for me. I’m looking forward to sharing the ring with a great fighter like Sergey Lipinets. He is a former world champion. He has fought some of the biggest names out there. I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s achieved in the sport, but it’s my time now. This is a chance for me to show that I belong at world level and that I’m ready to face the best. Lipinets has had a great career but on February 1st, he’s standing in my way, this is the next step of my journey, and nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dreams.”
Sergey Lipinets said: “I’m glad that Adam has accepted this fight. A lot of top fighters have refused to face me. I’ve never turned down a fight and this one is make or break for me. Adam is young and strong but he doesn’t have my experience. I’ve seen it all. May the best man win.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “This is a big step up for Adam Azim and a risky fight for him to be taking at this stage of his career. At just 22 years of age and in his thirteenth fight, he’s going up against a former world champion. Sergey Lipinets is a dangerous fighter. There’s no question about that. He’s an established, world-level boxer with devastating punching power. But Adam is a special talent. What we’ve seen from him in the ring and what he is showing in the gym, tells us he’s ready. This is a massive opportunity for him. It doesn’t get much bigger than this. Headlining an iconic venue, live on Sky Sports, he has the chance to announce himself onto the world stage.”
The IBO belt up for grabs has been held by the likes of Roger Mayweather (1994); Billy Schwer (2001); Colin Lynes (2004); Ricky Hatton (2007); Manny Paqquiao (2009), among others.
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This event is presented in association with official partners Betfred, That Prize Guy and Riyadh Season.