LONDON — British light-welterweight Adam Azim believes there is no need to rush into a domestic battle with Dalton Smith and instead wants a shot at the IBF title next.
Azim added further gravitas to his growing reputation in the 140lbs division with a statement stoppage of veteran Steve Claggett inside three rounds at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.
In an alternative universe the 23-year-old from Slough may have been in Sheffield this weekend to watch local favourite Smith defend his WBC belt against Alberto Puello and set up a future all-British world title bout, but injury has pushed that fight back and allowed highly-rated Azim to stay focused on the vacant IBF title.
“Yeah, obviously there is no massive rush for me, I am still young and have still got a lot of years in the game,” Azim told Press Association.
“To build a mega fight up, you want to have a world title so there is a lot more buzz because when you win, you have two belts and it’s a massive unification showdown in Britain.
“I really want to fight for (IBF). If it is there, I will take it with both hands and next fight hopefully I can take that and fight for a world title.
“I think I deserve it now. I have fought the likes of Sergey Lipinets, Kurt Scoby, Steve Claggett, these are people at world level and dangerous fights at a young age, so I think I deserve a shot at the world title now.”
With the eagerly anticipated Smith fight on the backburner, Azim expects to get back in the ring for September or October and harbours hopes it could for the vacant IBF crown after he become the first person in 15 years to stop Claggett.
The IBF last week officially ordered Lindolfo Delgado and Artur Biyarslanov to fight for the belt, but Azim’s BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom has raised the possibility of one of the two boxers stepping aside for trailblazer Azim, who has long been an inspiration for British Asians in the sport.
Azim said: “I feel very good, I have been enjoying some nice food these last couple of day and I think I defo (sic) deserve it!
“A lot of people were expecting me to go 12 rounds, such as Teofimo (Lopez), he said I’ll win by decision, but I did it in three and I dropped him in the second.
“There is Delgado and Biyarslanov (for IBF), but I am not sure a lot of people are keen for that fight because no promoters have put that up and not made it (yet). If I can get that fight opportunity in Riyadh season, it would be great.”
