Adam Azim prepares to face ‘largest puncher of his profession’ in Ohara Davies, stay on Sky Sports activities

Adam Azim could be very conscious when he takes on Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Enviornment on Saturday, stay on Sky Sports activities, he might be going through the “biggest puncher of his career”.

Having received and defended the European title in file time, Azim places his undefeated file (11-0, 8 KOs) on the road in opposition to Davies (25-3, 18 KOs) as he seems to proceed his spectacular profession trajectory and show he’s prepared for the most important names within the division and grow to be world champion within the 140lb division within the coming years.

Davies, a former British and Commonwealth champion, returns to the ring with a degree to show following an unsuccessful try on the WBA Interim super-lightweight crown and the prospect to get again into world title competition.

However Azim is aware of Davies’ punch-power goes to be a pressure he has to reckon with and is one thing that pundits and commentators consider might be an enormous take a look at for the 22-year-old.

“I am preparing for the biggest puncher of my career,” Azim advised Sky Sports activities. “He’s an enormous puncher however the intention of the sport is to not get hit.

“I need to be going again to my nook, sitting down, and when Shane (McGuigan) asks me the query ‘how is his punch’, I need to say ‘I’ve not been hit but.

“That’s the sport plan in my head proper now. So I’ve simply acquired to sit down down, not get hit, and if I do get hit, you possibly can’t actually educate something about that. It’s whether or not you possibly can take it or not.

“I know I have come from the high mountains of Kashmir and I know that I am a warrior in my family.

“I’ve much more to return. I’m nonetheless younger, I’m nonetheless studying, and I’m wanting ahead to the battle.”

Though Azim and Davies are mates outdoors of the ring having educated on the identical health club for a few years, the up-and-coming star is aware of as soon as the battle begins, friendships exit of the window.

“It’s the boxing world. To get to where you want to be, you’ve got to fight,” Azim mentioned.

“I’ve acquired to have that mindset to go in, dictate the battle and keep within the center. We’ve acquired a lot respect for one another. Once we get to battle evening, when the bell goes, our friendship goes, as a result of we’re in a battle, we’re in conflict and we’re there to placed on a scientific efficiency. I am there to do my obligation.

“Outside we’re friends, but in the ring it’s all down to business and I’m going to be so fully focused for this fight… I won’t hesitate. Any opportunity comes, it comes. I’m just looking forward to getting in the ring and fight. It’s going to be a great fight.

“Hopefully I placed on an incredible efficiency. Folks need to know if I am prepared for world degree or not and I really feel like I’m prepared for the world degree. I really feel just like the time’s coming the place I am maturing as an individual, as a human being.

“I don’t want to look past Ohara. He’s a dangerous fight. I’ve got to be switched on.”

Davies: Azim has gone from child on the health club to opponent

With a 10-year age hole between the pairing, it’s truthful to say Davies didn’t envisage himself at some point preventing Azim.

However Azim has gone from “kid at the gym” to “dangerous fighter” in Davies’ eyes, and the 32-year-old hopes he’s the one which “unlocks the code” to beat him.

“I am not one to say no to fights. I’m always one to say yes to fights. There’s never been a fight in my career that I’ve said no to. Adam’s the same. He’s a fighter, a warrior. Adam didn’t say no, I didn’t say no. So here we are,” mentioned Davies.

“I know Adam… Sometimes in boxing that’s how it goes.

“You by no means know what can occur. I take a look at all these up-and-coming fighters and I say I can battle any of you guys. I can battle my buddy. I am preventing Adam Azim. It is mad.

“I’ve recognized Adam a bit earlier than I turned professional, on the Peacock health club with Tunde… He wasn’t anybody particular. Only a younger child. He wasn’t someone I checked out and thought at some point I can battle this man. Simply one of many children within the health club.

“But he’s worked so hard. He’s a man, he’s got a beard now, a deep voice, he’s tall. He turned into a man and he’s turned into a good boxer and I’m so happy to see what he’s made of himself.

“As a result of I’ve know him for thus lengthy. There’s by no means going to be any hatred in my coronary heart in direction of him.

“I know what I’m up against, I’m up against a dangerous fighter and I’m not here to lose in front of thousands.

“I will should try to unlock the code [to beating him]. I do have ideas [how], the identical method everybody he is fought in opposition to earlier than thought that they’d the code. That is what each fighter thinks. We have simply acquired to attend and see whether or not I can do it on October 19.

“I wouldn’t take a fight if I thought I didn’t stand a chance of winning.”

McGuigan: Battle jogs my memory of Taylor and Catterall

For Azim’s coach Shane McGuigan, the battle is one which reminds him of the match up between Jack Catterall and Josh Taylor: a calculated puncher vs a child making an attempt to make his mark.

Davies himself went up in opposition to Catterall in 2018, going all the way in which with him, however dropping on factors.

“It’s going to be a very lively fight while it lasts and I just think the speed is going to be such a big factor,” mentioned McGuigan.

“Ohara’s skillful enough to go the distance with Jack Catterall, but Catterall is very calculated. He’s a good puncher but he’s very calculated. He doesn’t really go through the gears.

“Adam’s an excitable younger child that desires to make an impression, identical to Josh Taylor was after I was coaching him.

“He wants to make an impression, doesn’t want to go there and win on points, he wants to go there and make a statement and I think if you’ve got high expectations to do massive things in this sport – which he does and I fully expect he’s got the capability to – you’re going to have go out there and put on an explosive performance. I think he can do it.”

Adam Azim will battle Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Enviornment in London on October 19, stay on Sky Sports activities. Stream boxing and extra with NOW