Ben Shalom reveals blockbuster fight between Azim and Smith could happen this year
An all-British blockbuster between Adam Azim and Dalton Smith is “inevitable” according to Ben Shalom, with the promoter revealing it could happen later this year.
Likening the rivalry between the pair to the Kell Brook-Amir Khan feud, which simmered for over a decade before they finally met inside the ring, the BOXXER founder, who is responsible for guiding Azim’s career, issued the prediction ahead of Smith’s challenge for the vacant European super-lightweight title this weekend.
The unbeaten Sheffield fighter and his camp have accused Azim of deliberately avoiding them, with Sheffield’s Smith famously gatecrashing a social media interview involving Shalom during the build-up to a recent Riyadh Season show in Saudi Arabia.
But, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, he said: “It [Azim vs Smith] will definitely happen. I’m sure of it. I’m certain.
“Adam and Dalton are building their own careers. They are building their own resumes.
“Although there’s been a lot of back and forth, I think that only benefits the fighters themselves, ultimately.
“That’s because it builds it more. It’s an enormous fight and I definitely think there’s a good chance of it happening this year.”
Despite being ranked number two by the WBC, whose silver belt he captured nearly 12 months ago, Smith is intent on taking what he describes as a “traditional” route to the top.
That explains why, having already captured the British and Commonwealth crowns, he is prepared to risk his unblemished run as a professional by facing France’s Walid Ouizza at Nottingham Arena on Saturday night.
Azim, five years Smith’s junior and also unbeaten, previously held the EBU strap but opted to relinquish it.
He faces Sergey Lipinets for the IBO World title on February 1st.
Azim’s direction of travel has prompted criticism from Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who has publicly berated the Slough man for avoiding Smith. Shalom did not escape Hearn’s wrath either.
But rather than being drawn into a war of words with Smith and his stable, Azim’s handler said: “If you are a big star, like Adam is, you’re on big shows and do big numbers then you’re always going to have a target on your back.
“That’s just the way it is. It happens. We don’t read anything into it.
“When you’re in that position, people are always going to want a piece of you. They know that it can help them and propel them up. It’s all fine. It’s all good.
“If there’s to’ing and fro’ing between people then, in my opinion, it just makes a fight even bigger,” Shalom continued.
“I don’t take any of what is said personally. I don’t take it as people criticising. I just see it as part of the business, part of what happens.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s inevitable that fight is going to happen.”
Shalom, whose current deal with SKY Sports is scheduled to expire within the next 11 months, was responsible for arranging the show which saw Brook defeat another former world champion, Khan, three years ago.
The clash came 20 years after the pair first shared the ring as amateurs.
Convinced Azim (12-0) and Smith (16-0) are destined to meet, Shalom’s priority is to ensure that does not happen when both fighters are past their prime.
“What’s going on between Adam and Dalton does remind me a lot of what went on between Kell and Amir,” he said.
“That one was great, but it took place too late, really. It would’ve been great to see it happen sooner, with hindsight, even though that wasn’t possible for all sorts of different reasons.
“But I’m sure, in the not-so-distant future, you’re going to see these two get in there together. It’s building nicely and I’m sure it will continue to do so.”