ADAM AZIM will face the biggest test of his career when he takes on domestic super-lightweight rival Harlem Eubank.
The two faced-off in the ring last night at London’s O2 Arena prior to the Fabio Wardley-Frazer Clarke main event. However, there was no official announcement from Azim’s promoter Ben Shalom or their broadcast partner Sky Sports that the fight was definitely happening.
“I’m ready. This is what I wanted. He may be a Eubank, but I’m an Azim. it’s going to be an Azim takeover,” Azim said during their head to head.
“I don’t believe he wants it. His team clearly want it, his team are clearly excited but I know he doesn’t want it,” Eubank said.
After last night’s heavyweight slugfest between Wardley and Clarke Boxing News caught up with Azim’s trainer Shane McGuigan to get some clarification.
“It’s done, it’s signed, it’s sorted,” he revealed. “We’re just waiting to announce the venue and the date but the fight is signed for sure.”
Harlem Eubank (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Eubank is an improving fighter and has wins over veterans Viorel Simion and Sean Dodd on his record. But in November 2022 he stepped up his level of competition beating Tom Farrell on points at York Hall. Last time out the unbeaten 30-year-old from Brighton stopped Timo Schwarzkopf in the 11th round to earn a minor WBO belt.
Slough’s Azim has been in the boxing headlines recently because of his growing rivalry with Dalton Smith. Last November Azim won the European 140lb title against veteran Frenchman Franck Petitjean. And on February 23 the champion successfully defended his belt against Enock Poulsen after the challenger pulled out in the fifth round due to a shoulder injury.
His second defence looked like potentially being against Sheffield’s Smith. The European Boxing Union called for purse bids for an Azim-Smith fight and set a purse bid deadline for this coming Wednesday (April 3) at 11am UK time.
Smith’s promoter Eddie Hearn went on record recently telling media Azim would not defend the title against Smith. Hearn’s charge stepped up to world level on March 23 dropping 34-year-old Mexican and former world title challenger Jose Zepeda with a body shot in the fifth round in front of his home fans in the Steel City.