Adam Azim returns to action on Saturday night, seeking a sixth straight knockout as he attempts to prove that he is ready to compete for world titles. In the opposite corner is Steve Claggett, who is expected to provide the 24-year-old with his toughest test to date and, in the eyes of his promoter, is well capable of springing the upset.
Azim remains undefeated after 14 professional bouts and is well-positioned in both the IBF and WBO ratings, sitting as the world #7 with both sanctioning bodies and closing in on a shot at world honours. This weekend, he headlines a BOXXER card at the OVO Arena in London, broadcast live on BBC2.
‘The Assassin’ is tasked with experienced Canadian Claggett, who has 50 professional fights to his name and notably went the distance with Teofimo Lopez when challenging for the WBO world title two years ago.
Speaking to Boxing News, Claggett’s promoter, Camille Estephan, warned that his charge’s ‘energy and gas tank’ will test whether Azim is ‘for real’.
“We understand that Adam Azim is a very, very promising, good fighter, a young fighter. We have done a lot of homework on him, but I think that it is a really big test for Adam. Steve Claggett will now be the measuring stick that will show whether Adam Azim is for real and if, at the highest level, he is ready.
“Steve Claggett has proven to be able to perform at the highest level, he is not the young, up and coming fighter anymore, far from it. He wants to grab this opportunity, so this is a very important fight for Claggett.
“When you go into a fight with Steve Claggett, they say that he has the lungs of two great marathons, so he is going to have the energy and he is going to have the gas tank to really test Adam. I think it is going to be an amazing fight and I can’t wait to watch it.”
Azim-Claggett takes place on Saturday, May 30, with Joel Kodua and Will Harrison set to compete for the English welterweight title on the undercard.
