Adam Azim and Sergey Lipinets squared off for the first time ahead of their Wembley Arena clash this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, as Elvis Ahorgah launched a verbal tirade at Callum Simpson.
In this fight, for the first time in his career, the 22-year-old Azim is facing a former world champion.
But the Slough boxer is undaunted.
“It’s not going past six rounds,” Azim told Lipinets directly.
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Adam Azim speaks ahead of his bout with Sergey Lipinets and how reading Harry Potter books has helped him step outside his comfort zone
“We will see,” the Kazakh responded.
“I’m ready for the fight,” Lipinets insisted. “We’ll show action in the ring, all 12 rounds.
“He is very young, he’s very quick and fast but I have experience and we will see who will win this fight.
“I respect Adam Azim. He’s young and he takes this hard fight with me. I very much respect him. It’s good when you don’t want to stay in the same place, you want to be the best of the best and you fight with a good fighter.”
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Take a look at highlights of Adam Azim’s next opponent as he faces veteran Russian fighter Sergey Lipinets. Credit: ProBox TV
Lipinets is spurred on by his determination to win a major championship once again. “Of course I want to win a title again. It’s my dream to be a world champion again,” he said. “In the ring I will show everything.”
Azim’s trainer, Shane McGuigan acknowledged that Lipinets is a dangerous opponent for this stage of Azim’s career.
“You’re going to have to take risks to get to the top. I think this is a very calculated risk,” McGuigan said. “We know that this is going to be an all action fight. Lipinets is going to be on him from the first bell.
“I believe he has what it takes to stop Sergey Lipinets.”
That’s the result Azim will be gunning for. “This is my time to shine,” the Briton said. “I’m very highly confident and I can’t wait to get in the ring.
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Adam Azim says Sergey Lipinets has never faced someone like him before and vows to retire his Kazakhstan opponent on February 1
“I’ve got to hit him as much as I can to get him down. I’m expecting fireworks on Saturday night.”
Though Azim added: “I’ve got so much respect for him. He’s a former IBF world champion.
“He’s got the accolades around him where he’s fought at the world class level.”
There were no such niceties from Elvis Ahorgah, who fights Callum Simpson for the Commonwealth super-middleweight title in the chief support bout on the undercard.
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Callum Simpson gets a controversial TKO win against Steed Woodall after referee stops the bout in the second round
“They should come in their numbers because I’m ready for it,” Ahorgah declared. “That’s why they call me ‘The Soldier’. I’m not here to joke.
“Let’s bring it on. And it’s on!
“My mission is to take the title,” he continued. “Mission possible. So they should come in their numbers.
“I’m ready for everything… Is he ready to face the Soldier. Are you ready to face ‘The Soldier?'”
With a smile the Yorkshireman replied: “I don’t even know what to say to that.
“After that speech, I’m a bit scared to be honest.”
Watch Adam Azim vs Sergey Lipinets on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 7pm. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
