Adam Azim will fight the tough former world champion Sergej Lipinets for the first time this year on February 1st, live Sky Sports.
Having already won the European title, unbeaten super-lightweight Azim has ambitious plans for the rest of 2025 and is open to boxing British rivals such as Harlem Eubank or Dalton Smith later this year if he beats Lipinets at Wembley Arena.
“This is my first fight in 2025,” said Azim Sky Sports. “Hopefully, you never know, I could fight Dalton Smith.
“There are so many names, you have Dalton Smith, Harlem Eubank.
“Whatever opportunity comes into play,” he continued. “I'll just do my job.”
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Azim and Barry McGuigan discuss domestic rival Dalton Smith and insist there is definitely no fear of a future British showdown
Eubank is undefeated but was undefeated in his last fight in November when he boxed Nurali Erdogan for eight rounds.
Both fighters were deducted points and Eubank suffered a cut around his eye in the seventh round.
Azim, whose announced fight with Eubank in 2024 ultimately fell through, had a warning for him though.
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A new ringside angle appeared as Azim landed a huge body on Ohar Davies
“He couldn't (box against me like that) because I would have taken him out in two rounds,” Azim said.
“A lot of people can have bad days at the office, but he looked really bad.”
Azim last boxed in October, dominating Ohara Davies. He intends to build on that performance against Lipinec.
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Highlights from the super lightweight showdown between Azim and Davies
“I was mean with the Ohara Davies fight. We have a friendship there, but when we get in the ring, it's a fight. I'm going to take his head off, I'm going to do it,” he said.
“I'm going to be very destructive. It's going to be very clinical and it's going to be a pure master class.”
However, Lipinec will provide the toughest opposition to Azim in his career so far. “It's a real step forward,” he said.
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Azim and Davies were full of praise for each other after Azim's impressive win
“I'm just looking forward to the fight. He's a good operator. He's been at world level, he's a former IBF world champion, he's fought Mikey Garcia, 'Boots' (Jaron Ennis, now IBF light heavyweight champion) as well.
“The 'Boots' dismantled him in six rounds and pretty much beat him up, but I think he's world class overall so he's a good operator.”
Azim wants to prove his quality in this fight against Lipinec.
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Watch the moment Azim dropped Davies in the eighth round at the Copper Box
“This is my chance and a big moment to show that I'm ready to step up (to) world title level,” he said.
“I think I have to do (everything) to become a world champion and I know for sure when he wants me to fight inside, when he wants to fight at distance, I can do all that. I can fight inside, I can be long I can be middle, I have all the tools to class in boxing.
“My mindset has always been when I get in the ring, there's no distractions, nothing like that. I'm going to put on a great mature, clinical performance.”
Watch Adam Azim vs Sergej Lipinets on February 1st live Sky Sports.