Adam Azim may be very conscious when he takes on Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Area on Saturday, stay on Sky Sports activities, he will likely be dealing with the “biggest puncher of his career”.
Having gained and defended the European title in file time, Azim places his undefeated file (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 most important names within the division and turn out to be 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 prospect to get again into world title competition.
However Azim is aware of Davies’ punch-power goes to be a pressure he has to reckon with and is one thing that pundits and commentators consider will likely be a giant check for the 22-year-old.
“I am preparing for the biggest puncher of my career,” Azim informed Sky Sports activities. “He’s a giant puncher however the intention of the sport is to not get hit.
“I need to be going again to my nook, sitting down, and when Shane (McGuigan) asks me the query ‘how is his punch’, I need to say ‘I’ve not been hit but.
“That’s the sport plan in my head proper now. So I’ve simply bought to take a seat 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 come back. I’m nonetheless younger, I’m nonetheless studying, and I’m wanting ahead to the struggle.”
Though Azim and Davies are mates outdoors of the ring having educated on the identical gymnasium for a few years, the up-and-coming star is aware of as soon as the struggle 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 stated.
“I’ve bought to have that mindset to go in, dictate the struggle and keep within the center. We’ve got bought a lot respect for one another. Once we get to struggle night time, when the bell goes, our friendship goes, as a result of we’re in a struggle, we’re in struggle and we’re there to placed on a medical efficiency. I am there to do my obligation.
“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 amazing efficiency. Folks need 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.”
Davies: Azim has gone from child on the gymnasium to opponent
With a 10-year age hole between the pairing, it’s truthful to say Davies didn’t envisage himself in the future 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.
“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,” stated Davies.
“I know Adam… Sometimes in boxing that’s how it goes.
“You by no means know what can occur. I have a look at all these up-and-coming fighters and I say I can struggle any of you guys. I can struggle my buddy. I am combating Adam Azim. It is mad.
“I’ve recognized Adam a bit earlier than I turned professional, on the Peacock gymnasium with Tunde… He wasn’t anybody particular. Only a younger child. He wasn’t any individual I checked out and thought in the future I can struggle this man. Simply one of many youngsters within the gymnasium.
“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 therefore lengthy. There’s by no means going to be any hatred in my coronary heart in the 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 will need to try to unlock the code [to beating him]. I do have ideas [how], the identical approach everybody he is fought in opposition to earlier than thought that they’d the code. That is what each fighter thinks. We have simply bought 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.”
McGuigan: Combat jogs my memory of Taylor and Catterall
For Azim’s coach Shane McGuigan, the struggle 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.
“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,” stated 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 wishes to make an impression, identical 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.”
Adam Azim will struggle Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Area in London on October 19, stay on Sky Sports activities. Stream boxing and extra with NOW