Ben Shalom says Adam Azim is targeting a world title shot next and that a long-anticipated grudge match with WBC junior-welterweight champion Dalton Smith is now within the next two fights.
Shalom spoke to BoxingScene following Azim’s three-round demolition of Steve Claggett, which earned the 15-0 junior-welterweight a number four IBF ranking.
If he’d have fought on January 31 he’d be fighting for a world title next. That’s just how it works, but it is what it is. I’m excited, I think it’s going to be a big, big next fight and hopefully it’ll be that world title.
Azim is positioned for a shot at the winner of Lindolfo Delgado vs. Arthur Biyarslanov, who fight for the vacant IBF title this summer. Shalom said Azim’s next fight is planned for the BBC before the bigger opportunities materialize.
On the Dalton Smith fight, Shalom was direct.
We want to make sure in the next two fights we can see that grudge match that everyone wants to see. I want that to be the biggest fight possible, I want it to be a pay-per-view fight, I want it to be the fight that defines Adam’s early career.
Shalom also confirmed that Boxxer’s recently announced DAZN deal is a multi-fight agreement rather than a single event, and that the BBC broadcast partnership remains intact alongside it.
I don’t want to embarrass anyone but it’s a proper deal for us and I’m so excited to get back to the big nights, the big fights, the big events regularly for a long period.