Adam Azim may be very conscious when he takes on Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Enviornment on Saturday, reside on Sky Sports activities, he shall be dealing with the “biggest puncher of his career”.
Having gained and defended the European title in document time, Azim places his undefeated document (11-0, 8 KOs) on the road in opposition to Davies (25-3, 18 KOs) as he seems to be to proceed his spectacular profession trajectory and show he’s prepared for the largest names within the division and turn into world champion within the 140lb division within the coming years.
Davies, a former British and Commonwealth champion, returns to the ring with some extent to show following an unsuccessful try on the WBA Interim super-lightweight crown and the possibility to get again into world title competition.
However Azim is aware of Davies’ punch-power goes to be a power he has to reckon with and is one thing that pundits and commentators consider shall be a giant check for the 22-year-old.
“I am preparing for the biggest puncher of my career,” Azim instructed Sky Sports activities. “He’s a giant puncher however the purpose of the sport is to not get hit.
“I wish to be going again to my nook, sitting down, and when Shane (McGuigan) asks me the query ‘how is his punch’, I wish to say ‘I’ve not been hit but.
“That’s the sport plan in my head proper now. So I’ve simply obtained to sit down down, not get hit, and if I do get hit, you may’t actually train something about that. It’s whether or not you may take it or not.
“I know I have come from the high mountains of Kashmir and I know that I am a warrior in my family.
“I’ve much more to return. I’m nonetheless younger, I’m nonetheless studying, and I’m trying ahead to the battle.”
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Dalton Smith says a possible battle with Adam Azim is ‘heating up properly’ and shall be sufficiently big to prime a serious invoice sooner or later
Though Azim and Davies are associates outdoors of the ring having skilled on the identical health club for a few years, the up-and-coming star is aware of as soon as the battle begins, friendships exit of the window.
“It’s the boxing world. To get to where you want to be, you’ve got to fight,” Azim mentioned.
“I’ve obtained to have that mindset to go in, dictate the battle and keep within the center. Now we have obtained a lot respect for one another. After we get to battle evening, when the bell goes, our friendship goes, as a result of we’re in a battle, we’re in conflict and we’re there to placed on a scientific efficiency. I am there to do my responsibility.
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An indignant Ohara Davies believes Adam Azim’s crew have made a ‘dumb’ resolution in deciding on him as his opponent, stating that Azim will acquire nothing if he’s victorious
“Outside we’re friends, but in the ring it’s all down to business and I’m going to be so fully focused for this fight… I won’t hesitate. Any opportunity comes, it comes. I’m just looking forward to getting in the ring and fight. It’s going to be a great fight.
“Hopefully I placed on an incredible efficiency. Folks wish to know if I am prepared for world degree or not and I really feel like I’m prepared for the world degree. I really feel just like the time’s coming the place I am maturing as an individual, as a human being.
“I don’t want to look past Ohara. He’s a dangerous fight. I’ve got to be switched on.”
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Johnny Nelson believes rising star Adam Azim might want to put in a career-best efficiency in opposition to Ohara Davies as they face one another in October
Davies: Azim has gone from child on the health club to opponent
With a 10-year age hole between the pairing, it’s honest to say Davies didn’t envisage himself someday combating Azim.
However Azim has gone from “kid at the gym” to “dangerous fighter” in Davies’ eyes, and the 32-year-old hopes he’s the one which “unlocks the code” to beat him.
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Ohara Davies offers a frank admission on boxing press conferences forward of his conflict with Adam Azim on the Copper Field Enviornment
“I am not one to say no to fights. I’m always one to say yes to fights. There’s never been a fight in my career that I’ve said no to. Adam’s the same. He’s a fighter, a warrior. Adam didn’t say no, I didn’t say no. So here we are,” mentioned Davies.
“I know Adam… Sometimes in boxing that’s how it goes.
“You by no means know what can occur. I take a look at all these up-and-coming fighters and I say I can battle any of you guys. I can battle my pal. I am combating Adam Azim. It is mad.
“I’ve recognized Adam a bit earlier than I turned professional, on the Peacock health club with Tunde… He wasn’t anybody particular. Only a younger child. He wasn’t someone I checked out and thought someday I can battle this man. Simply one of many children within the health club.
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Matt Macklin offers his views on Adam Azim taking over Ohara Davies and the way this might be a giant check for the younger prospect
“But he’s worked so hard. He’s a man, he’s got a beard now, a deep voice, he’s tall. He turned into a man and he’s turned into a good boxer and I’m so happy to see what he’s made of himself.
“As a result of I’ve know him for thus lengthy. There’s by no means going to be any hatred in my coronary heart in direction of him.
“I know what I’m up against, I’m up against a dangerous fighter and I’m not here to lose in front of thousands.
“I’ll need to try to unlock the code [to beating him]. I do have ideas [how], the identical manner everybody he is fought in opposition to earlier than thought that they’d the code. That is what each fighter thinks. We have simply obtained to attend and see whether or not I can do it on October 19.
“I wouldn’t take a fight if I thought I didn’t stand a chance of winning.”
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Adam Azim explains how he did not find yourself combating Harlem Eubank and why he has harder battle forward when dealing with Ohara Davies
McGuigan: Struggle jogs my memory of Taylor and Catterall
For Azim’s coach Shane McGuigan, the battle is one which reminds him of the match up between Jack Catterall and Josh Taylor: a calculated puncher vs a child attempting to make his mark.
Davies himself went up in opposition to Catterall in 2018, going all the best way with him, however shedding on factors.
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Adam Azim’s coach Shane McGuigan offers his ideas on his fighter’s upcoming battle with Ohara Davies on October 19
“It’s going to be a very lively fight while it lasts and I just think the speed is going to be such a big factor,” mentioned McGuigan.
“Ohara’s skillful enough to go the distance with Jack Catterall, but Catterall is very calculated. He’s a good puncher but he’s very calculated. He doesn’t really go through the gears.
“Adam’s an excitable younger child that desires to make an impression, similar to Josh Taylor was once I was coaching him.
“He wants to make an impression, doesn’t want to go there and win on points, he wants to go there and make a statement and I think if you’ve got high expectations to do massive things in this sport – which he does and I fully expect he’s got the capability to – you’re going to have go out there and put on an explosive performance. I think he can do it.”
Reside Struggle Evening
Saturday nineteenth October 7:00pm
Adam Azim will battle Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Enviornment in London on October 19, reside on Sky Sports activities. Stream boxing and extra with NOW
