Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets Big Fight Preview

Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets Big Fight Preview

By Matt Elliott

Adam Azim will be looking to elevate himself to the next level of the super-lightweight division on Saturday night when he faces Sergey Lipinets at Wembley Arena for the vacant IBO title. On paper, it is another step up in quality for Azim against the former IBF world champion, but the Shane McGuigan-trained fighter has already demonstrated that when the level of opposition improves, he can move through the gears, evidenced by his one-sided performance against Ohara Davies last October.

After a frustrating 2024 in which injury limited him to just two fights, Azim is determined to remain active this year and showcase the hard work he has been putting in at the gym. Against Lipinets, he faces someone entering the twilight years of an eleven-year professional career, but despite that, he can still cause Azim issues if he is not fully switched on. With a record of 18-3-1, the Kazakh-born fighter won the IBF strap in 2017 with a unanimous points victory over Akihiro Kondo but lost it in his first defence against the highly talented Mikey Garcia four months later. His two other career defeats came to Boots Ennis in 2021, the only man to stop him to date, and Michel Rivera in late 2023. Last time out, Lipinets defeated Robbie Davies Jr., a former stablemate of Azim, in a fascinating encounter in which neither man gave an inch.

Lipinets is known for being a front-foot fighter, and he is unlikely to change that approach for this one, even though trying to stand in front of Azim may prove costly. It is hard to look past the British man who appears destined for the very top, with his confident personality backed up by his in-ring abilities. Boxxer have received criticism from some for their management of the fighter so far, most notably the decision to withdraw him from a mandated clash with Dalton Smith, but it is hard to disagree with that move, especially if he can now claim the IBO title, which will undoubtedly open up some big fights in the future. The super-lightweight division is one of the most competitive divisions around at present, and in the UK with Azim, Smith, and Jack Catterall, we can look forward to some big nights over the months ahead.

On the undercard Callum Simpson returns to action for his second fight in just three weeks after his stoppage of Steed Woodallin Sheffield at the beginning of January, facing Elvis Ahorgah with his Commonwealth super-middleweight title on the line. When Isaac Chamberlain was forced to withdraw from his scheduled clash with Viddal Riley due to injury, Boxxer turned to the reliable Simpson, who chose to accept the fight despite the potential risks it carries. Ahorgah was due to face off with Mark Jeffers in December for the Commonwealth Silver title before a last-minute change, so he will come into this one with a point to prove.

There is an intriguing clash at heavyweight as Jeamie Tshikeva does battle with Michael Webster. Tshikeva stopped Franklin Ignatius inside six rounds last October, while Webster is looking to bounce back from a seventh-round loss to Solomon Dacres in July. That clash with Dacres was a rematch of their November 2023 clash in which Webster lost on a majority decision despite many at ringside thinking he had done enough to win the fight and with it the English title. Both fights against Dacres were taken at short notice, so with better preparation, this should be a good test for both men.

Scott Forrest and Aurel Ignat meet at cruiserweight, with both men coming into this one protecting unbeaten records. Forrest is an experienced amateur and represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games as well as competing in the 2019 World Championships. He has seven victories with four knockouts so far, but this is a test against the undefeated Ignat who has eight victories, seven coming by way of knockout.

Elsewhere, Hassan Azim, brother of Adam, looks to put an injury-plagued two years behind him as he returns to action against Jensen Irving over four rounds at middleweight while the unbeaten Joel Kodua takes on Lloyd Germain over eight rounds at cruiserweight. Alfie Clegg and Sebastian Alejandro Castillo face off at super flyweight, and Lucas Roehrig makes his second professional appearance when he takes on Milosav Savic.

Emmany Kalombo challenges Sergio Garcia Herrera over six rounds at super-welterweight, and the remaining fight sees Garan Croft take on Dmitri Protkunas over four rounds at the same weight.

Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer

Official weights from London:

12 x 3 mins – Vacant IBO World Super Lightweight Championship

ADAM AZIM – 10st / 140lb

SERGEY LIPINETS – 10st / 140lb

12 x 3 mins – Commonwealth Super Middleweight Championship

CALLUM SIMPSON – 12st / 168lb

ELVIS AHORGAH – 11st 12lb 5oz / 166lb

8 x 3 mins – Cruiserweight contest

SCOTT FORREST – 14st 5lb / 201lb

AUREL IGNAT – 14st 2lb / 198lb

10 x 3 mins – IBO International Heavyweight Championship

JEAMIE TKV – 18st 9lb / 261lb

MICHAEL WEBSTER – 18st 3lb 5oz / 255lb

6 x 3 mins – Cruiserweight contest

LUCAS ROEHRIG – 14st 1lb 5oz / 197lb

MILOSAV SAVIC – 13st 12lb / 194lb

4 x 3 mins – Super Welterweight contest

GARAN CROFT – 11st 1lb 5oz / 155lb

DMITTRI PROTKUNAS – 11st 2lb 5oz / 156lb

8 x 3 mins – Welterweight contest

JOEL KODUA – 10st 8lb 5oz / 148lb

LLOYD GERMAIN – 10st 8lb 5oz / 148lb

6 x 3 mins – Super Flyweight contest

ALFIE CLEGG – 8st 2lb / 114lb

SEBASTIAN ALEJANDRO CASTILLO – 8st 5lb 5oz / 117lb

6 x 3 mins – Super Welterweight contest

EMMANY KALOMBO – 10st 13lb 5oz / 153lb

SERGIO GARCIA HERREA – 11st 5oz / 154lb

4 x 3 mins – Middleweight contest

HASSAN AZIM – 11st 9lb / 163lb

JENSEN IRVING – 11st 9lb / 163lb

This event is presented in association with official partners Betfred, That Prize Guy, HELL Energy and Riyadh Season.