Adam Azim is officially set for his next outing, as a December 4 fight against Gabriel Valenzuela at the Copper Box is now formally on the schedule. During an appearance for the opening presser, Azim would share his thoughts on being relatively inactive this year and his expectations to get things back on track. Here’s some of what he had to say below.
Azim on facing Valenzuela
“Gabriel Valenzuela is a great opponent, very tricky, quite awkward, can punch as well. I’m not looking past him. He’s fought some great fighters like
Delgado, Subriel Matias, and yeah, I’m going to put on a great performance December 4th and look very good.
“…at the end of the day I’m at the [cusp] of becoming world champion and I ain’t looking past him.”
On how he would assess his 2026 campaign
“Of course it’s been frustrating, being in camp for a very long time. I had an injury, had to pull out. But everything happens for a reason. I’m going to have my second fight in December and hopefully next year I’m going to be out three times.
“At the end of the day, like next year I want to be active as much as I want. I want to fight in January, I want to fight in like July, and then December or something. But I want to fight Dalton Smith next year. And hopefully I’m on the [cusp] to become a world champion and hopefully me and him can make it happen.”
On his world title aspirations
“I’m in a grateful for the position I’m in now. Hopefully, have this fight with flying colors and hopefully go into a world title fight. I think that’s my plan.”
On believing he’s the A-side over Dalton Smith
“140 is a great division and hopefully once I have a world title then I’ve got a lot of opportunities — I’ve got Shakur, I’ve got Dalton, I’ve got like Antuanne Russell. There’s loads of names in the division but I’m not looking past Gabriel Valenzuela first.”
