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What's next for Adam Azim: Briton stops Sergey Lipinets in statement win; warning to Dalton Smith

When a trainer has a potential superstar on his hands it’s natural that he will bang the drum about his fighter.

Shane McGuigan knows a diamond when he sees one having been in the corner for some of Carl Frampton and Josh Taylor’s biggest wins. And the highly respected coach also polished the rough edges off Chris Billam-Smith to transform him into a world champion.

But ever since Adam Azim linked up with McGuigan the latter would wax lyrical about the Slough super lightweight when asked about him.

In December, for example, McGuigan told Boxing News that Azim, then 12-0 (9 KOs), would be a problem for former undisputed champion Josh Taylor – who McGuigan once coached.

“Josh always had success with being fast and punching in combinations and being quick. He’d be in there with a guy that’s faster than him and able to fight at range so it’ll be a hard night. I don’t think he would do that and I don’t blame him.”

In the build-up to Azim’s bout against former world champion Sergey Lipinets last night, McGuigan spoke to BN and said: “It’s enough of a test but it can allow Adam to look explosive.

“I am more convinced than ever he’s going to be a superstar.”

Boxing fans are used to hyperbole but the evidence must be presented before they can be convinced. Well, Azim’s ninth round stoppage win against Lipinets should go some way to turn doubters into believers.

Context is important, however. Lipinets is 35 years old, been a pro nearly 11 years and in May had a right old ding-dong against Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr which Lipinets prevailed in. But if you are tipped as a future “superstar” and are paired with a veteran ex-champion you better impress - and Azim did.

From the opening bell the 22-year-old came out firing establishing the jab and dominating the action. Lipinets kept a high guard and stayed within distance but couldn’t get involved the way he would have hoped.

When watching a touted prospect or contender there can be signs your witnessing something special in the making and in last night’s main event at The OVO Arena Azim threw shots with spite, intent but more importantly textbook technique and accuracy which were world-class. At one stage it looked like he couldn’t miss.

As his confidence grew he chose to fight in the pocket which would have pleased Lipinets but instead he got beat at his own game. Azim’s physicality and the positioning of his feet and hands helped give him full control.

In round three, Azim showed his versatility moving backwards under pressure and after being clipped by Lipinets the punch was returned but more authoritatively send the Kazakhstani hard man to the floor. Azim looked disrespected, almost insulted that Lipinets would take such a risk and certainly put him in his place for doing so.

Lipinets had his own success as the rounds wore on but this was more down to survival but he did capitalise on some Azim mistakes and perhaps over-confidence which will be ironed out down the road.

Receiving a point deduction and warnings for low blows was the only sour note for Azim in a win which rewarded him with the IBO belt – a fringe ‘world’ title which gives him a bargaining chip for bigger fights.

By the ninth round referee Gray had seen enough of the beating Azim was dishing out and waved off the contest. Lipinets is a proud man who always wants to hear the final bell even in defeat but a further three rounds of punishments wasn’t necessary.

After an interrupted 2024 which kept Azim on the sidelines for several months 2025 is off to the best possible start for Azim. It was a fine performance but the best is yet to come and for rivals such as Dalton Smith – who Azim aimed verbal shots at in his post-fight interviews – that is bad news because ‘The Assassin’ is just getting warmed up.

Read Adam Azim's BOXXER Profile

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