Adam Azim prepares to face ‘greatest puncher of his profession’ in Ohara Davies, reside on Sky Sports activities | Boxing Information

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

Having received and defended the European title in report time, Azim places his undefeated report (11-0, 8 KOs) on the road in opposition to Davies (25-3, 18 KOs) as he seems to be 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 possibility to get again into world title rivalry.

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 imagine shall be an enormous check for the 22-year-old.

“I am preparing for the biggest puncher of my career,” Azim instructed Sky Sports activities. “He’s an enormous puncher however the purpose 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 recreation plan in my head proper now. So I’ve simply obtained to take a seat 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 combat.”

Though Azim and Davies are pals exterior of the ring having educated on the similar gymnasium for a few years, the up-and-coming star is aware of as soon as the combat 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 stated.

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

“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 amazing efficiency. Folks need to know if I am prepared for world stage or not and I really feel like I’m prepared for the world stage. 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 gymnasium to opponent

With a 10-year age hole between the pairing, it’s honest to say Davies didn’t envisage himself at some point combating 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,” stated 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 combat any of you guys. I can combat my pal. I am combating Adam Azim. It is mad.

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

“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 therefore lengthy. There’s by no means going to be any hatred in my coronary heart in the 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’ll need to attempt to unlock the code [to beating him]. I do have ideas [how], the identical manner everybody he is fought in opposition to earlier than thought that that they had the code. That is what each fighter thinks. We have simply obtained 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: Combat jogs my memory of Taylor and Catterall

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

Davies himself went up in opposition to Catterall in 2018, going all the best way 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,” stated 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 wishes to make an impression, identical to Josh Taylor was once 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 combat Ohara Davies on the Copper Field Area in London on October 19, reside on Sky Sports activities. Stream boxing and extra with NOW