Great Britain's Adam Azim will continue his charge towards world honors when he faces Argentina's Gustavo Lemos on Saturday, January 31st at the Copper Box Arena in London. The fight will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Azim vs. Lemos will receive star support from Francesca Hennessy (7-0, 1 KO) who will face fellow unbeaten Brit Ellie Boutell (7-0-1, 2 KOs) in a final eliminator for the WBC bantamweight title. Azim (14-0, 11 KOs) is widely regarded as one of the U.K.'s best prospects. Based on his hand speed and other skills, the 23-year old has been fast-tracked toward world title contention. He first laced up the gloves at just four years old and quickly rose through the amateur ranks, claiming multiple national and European titles as a junior. Since turning professional, Azim has won and defended the European title in record time, before announcing himself on the world stage with a stoppage victory over former 140-pound champion Sergey Lipinets.
Continuing his rise, the British-Pakistani boxer delivered a winning performance against American Kurt Scoby in front of 60,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of the blockbuster Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn rematch. Azim has close ties to ex-champion Barry McGuigan MBE, who, alongside his trainer son Shane McGuigan, has played a key role in guiding Azim's career. In a full-circle moment, Azim will now headline a primetime BBC television event, following in the footsteps of McGuigan, who rose to superstardom in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio Pedrosa to win the WBA featherweight title in front of a television audience of 19 million.
Standing in Azim’s way is Lemos (30–2, 20 KOs), whose only defeats have come at the hands of current world champions. Lemos pushed current IBF champion Richardson Hitchins to the limit in a fiercely contested loss, and will be coming to London determined to make a major statement.
Azim said: “This is the kind of fight I’ve been asking for. Gustavo Lemos is a dangerous fighter, and exactly the sort of opponent I need to face to prove I’m ready for the very top. Fighting live on BBC Two is a huge moment for me and to do that while headlining a big event close to home in London is going to be a special moment. I’m ready to put on a performance and take another step towards becoming a world champion. I respect Gustavo Lemos and what he has achieved in the sport, but on January 31, I’m going to show the world the level I’m at. This is my time.”
Boxxer founder & CEO Ben Shalom said: “This is a huge moment for Adam Azim and a real statement fight. Gustavo Lemos is a dangerous fighter with genuine power, and this is exactly the kind of test Adam needs at this stage of his career. Adam is one of the most exciting young fighters in British boxing, and headlining live and free-to-air on the BBC is the perfect platform to showcase his talent to a national audience. January 31st at the Copper Box is going to be a brilliant night of boxing, and this fight has all the ingredients to produce something special.”
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of Sport at the BBC, said: “Adam Azim is among the most exciting young prospects in British sport, and this fight is a major milestone in his ascent. Taking boxing live and free-to-air is key to connecting a new generation of fans and growing the sport’s future.”
As for Hennessy, she will be following up on a flawless performance against Fabiana Bytyqi, in which she won every round to defeat the former WBC champion (albeit form a much lighter wieght). The 21 year-old Hennessy returns to BBC television looking to continue her rapid rise. Her aim is to become the youngest ever undisputed world champion. A record currently held by Gabriela Fundora, who claimed all four major titles at the age of 22. Hennessy said: “Fighting on a huge night like this, live on the BBC, is exactly where I belong. This is a massive step in my career and I’m ready for it. Ellie Boutell is unbeaten and deserves respect, but this is my moment to show that I’m ready for world level... Becoming mandatory for the world championship brings me closer to my ultimate goal.”
