Adam Azim vs. Ohara Davies | Sky Sports - 19 October 2024

[handsofstone]

Commonwealth Gold medalist Sam Hickey makes his pro debut on the card, he's from my way and came from a club I used to train at for a short time, watched him a lot as an amateur, very good boxer, strong as well, he's one to watch, he stopped Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson back in 22 en route to his Commonwealth gold

[JamesPhilips]

Another underwhelming Shalom bill. How did he ever get the Sky gig and how has he still got it?

Shannon Courtenay making her comeback is worth a ticket alone, some decent match ups for a change on a Boxer show

Yes 4 x 2 minutes rounds of boxing ecstacy…. Plus the female Lomachenko in an 8 round barnburner. Unmissable

[keithmoonhangover]

Francesca Hennessy's opponent, Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes doesn't look bad and could spring an upset this weekend.

[tony1234]

Francesca Hennessy's opponent, Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes doesn't look bad and could spring an upset this weekend.

9/1 for the win at the bookies

[keithmoonhangover]

Francesca Hennessy's opponent, Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes doesn't look bad and could spring an upset this weekend.

9/1 for the win at the bookies

Will she get the decision?

[margaret thatcher]

Commonwealth Gold medalist Sam Hickey makes his pro debut on the card, he's from my way and came from a club I used to train at for a short time, watched him a lot as an amateur, very good boxer, strong as well, he's one to watch, he stopped Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson back in 22 en route to his Commonwealth gold

seen a bit of hickey, fast hands. and stopped the finnish guy i saw him fight , didnt drop him but rocked him good. maybe hints to some power considering he stopped richardson too, though i didnt see that one

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yarde will take on Latvian Ralfs Vilcans

[Ruthless-RKO]

Adam Azim rising in British boxing using ADHD as a 'superpower'

Junior welterweight contender Adam Azim said living with ADHD is like having a superpower as a professional boxer but acknowledged his struggles as a child and the diligence required not to burn himself out.

Azim (11-0, 8 KOs) faces English rival Ohara Davies for the European title at the Copper Box Arena in London, as he targets staying on course to challenge for a world title shot next year. The 22-year-old, who is considered one of the brightest prospects from the United Kingdom, makes a second European title defence against Davies (25-3, 18 KOs). Since he turned professional in December 2020, Azim has shown that he can fight at the very top level.

However, Azim is also different from your average boxer in another way.

October is annual awareness month about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a "developmental disorder marked by persistent symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development," according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Symptoms typically begin in childhood and can impact relationships as well as the ability to perform in school or at work.

Azim is always happy to talk about the condition, which he believes is integral to his success in boxing as long as his energy can be managed and channeled effectively.

"My ADHD is like a superpower for me because I can do any sort of activity I want and put a lot of energy into it," Azim told ESPN. "I've always had a lot of energy to get up and box at any time of the day. The first thing I do when I get out of bed in the morning is start to shadow box. I could get up in the middle of the night and do a 10 km run or punch the bag. I'm all energy, ADHD keeps me going, keeps me training and focused on boxing, because I can't sit still.

"My dad [Az] and trainer [Shane McGuigan] are always telling me I'm doing too much and I need to hold it down. Barry McGuigan [former featherweight world champion, and father of Shane] told me he had a lot of energy when he was a fighter and said he would burn himself out. So I've been trying to be smart about it and not over do it."

If it wasn't for ADHD, Azim might not be a boxer as he took up the sport on the advice of doctors.

"As a kid I was in A&E [hospital] numerous times because of my ADHD," Azim said. "One time I fell out of a tree, another time I jumped out of a window because I thought I was Spiderman. So I've got a few cracks and scars but not from boxing but because I was falling over loads.

"The doctors said I needed to channel my energy, get a sport, so I tried cricket to begin with. I liked the batting and bowling but I didn't like the fielding, standing around. I wasn't the greatest at football, but then I tried boxing and I threw all my energy at it.

"Growing up, my dad took me out of school because I was messing about too much, I couldn't concentrate in class, and I was home-schooled after that, and it was good, it worked for me.

"I talk about ADHD to bring awareness to ADHD and people can look at how boxing has helped me, and I want to help other people with ADHD by talking about my experiences. ADHD doesn't have to be a bad thing to have, you can use it to do good things, it is energy you can use to do something and achieve something. It doesn't have to be boxing that they can do, it can be anything."

Azim, who is from Slough just west of London, trains at the same gym as the likes of WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith, IBF women's junior featherweight world champion Ellie Scotney, WBC women's interim lightweight titlist Caroline Dubois and Adam's brother Hassan, who is a year older than Azim and 7-0 as a professional.

Azim aims to follow in the footsteps of former junior welterweight world champion Amir Khan (now retired), who like him is from British-Pakistani origin.

Azim is still some way off a world title shot and Davies, 32, from east London, is potentially his hardest fight yet. Davies needs a strong performance to revive his career after a first round stoppage loss to Ismael Barroso in Las Vegas in January.

"I'm 22 years old now and I feel I need to step up and target the world champions," Azim said. "I have to be on my game because Ohara Davies has fought at a good level for a while and these are the type of fights I need at this stage of my career.

"But fighting Ohara is a bit of a weird one. I've known Ohara for years, I was a kid when I first met him, probably aged nine and it's sad I have to fight him, but that's boxing."

To learn more about ADHD and ADHD Awareness Month, visit https://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/.

[Flump]

It's an OK bill I think. Azeez v Edmondson is interesting, and if Davies' punch resistance isn't completely gone, then the main event has intrigue.

[keithmoonhangover]

It's an OK bill I think. Azeez v Edmondson is interesting, and if Davies' punch resistance isn't completely gone, then the main event has intrigue.

I think it'll be an early night tomorrow. I can see Azim jumping on him and it being over inside 3. Be nice if I was wrong and it was a competitive fight.

[Flump]

It's an OK bill I think. Azeez v Edmondson is interesting, and if Davies' punch resistance isn't completely gone, then the main event has intrigue.

I think it'll be an early night tomorrow. I can see Azim jumping on him and it being over inside 3. Be nice if I was wrong and it was a competitive fight.

Could be, that's the smart pick for sure

[wrighty]

I read an interview with Davies on boxing scene and it feels like he's going in expecting a loss. A shame as I quite like Ohara but it is what it is. I don't look into his resistance too much. Barosso can hit and he got caught cold. Maybe it was the occasion

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Show weights...

12 rounds – junior welterweight
Adam Azim – 140
Ohara Davies – 139lbs

10 rounds – light heavyweight
Anthony Yarde – 179bs
Ralfs Vilcans – 177 1/2lbs

12 rounds – British light heavyweight title
Dan Azeez – 174lbs
Lewis Emondson – 174 1/2lbs

12 rounds – welterweight
Michael McKinson – 146 1/2lbs
Tulani Mbenge – 146 1/2lbs

10 rounds – heavyweight
Franklin Ignatius – 230 1/2lbs
Jeamie Tshikeva – 258lbs

Eight two-minute rounds – bantamweight
Ana Karla Vaz De Moraws – 120 1/2lbs
Fran Hennessy – 121 1/2lbs

Four rounds – middleweight
John Henry Mosquera – 162lbs
Sam Hickey – 163 1/2lbs

Six two-minute rounds – bantamweight
Catherine Ramos – 124lbs
Shannon Courtenay – 128lbs

[keithmoonhangover]

I read an interview with Davies on boxing scene and it feels like he's going in expecting a loss.

Well he won't be disappointed then will he.

[mickey1975]

Poor Shannon has really been through it. Had to learn to walk again following injury, been in a mental home and Matchroom haven't contacted her since she turned down a fight on the day of her dad's funeral.

[margaret thatcher]

mental home???

[mickey1975]

mental home???

Hospital

[margaret thatcher]

poor shan

[jameswilson]

Francesca Hennessy's opponent, Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes doesn't look bad and could spring an upset this weekend.

9/1 for the win at the bookies

Will she get the decision?

Hennessy is a loss waiting to happen it's just a case of picking the right time. Her opponent is undefeated but has only been beating debutants or people with one fight. In saying that she's either shut them out or stopped them. As well as that her opponent hasn't fought in a year and is a bantamweight rather than 122.

She may well not get ther decision if it's a close. If it ends up being very clear tho then we will see.

[keithmoonhangover]

9/1 for the win at the bookies

Will she get the decision?

Hennessy is a loss waiting to happen it's just a case of picking the right time. Her opponent is undefeated but has only been beating debutants or people with one fight. In saying that she's either shut them out or stopped them. As well as that her opponent hasn't fought in a year and is a bantamweight rather than 122.

She may well not get ther decision if it's a close. If it ends up being very clear tho then we will see.

I watched one of the Brazilian lass' fights and she was pretty organised. I think she'll do well tomorrow night.

[jameswilson]

I’ve been critical of Shannon and ultimately given how she was in the lead up to the Ebanie Bridges fight she does put herself out there for criticism with how outspoken she is about her opponents. She had a go at Bridges for playing the beauty card but she, herself, used to do these Instagram stories with herself pouting and so on. She then missed weight for one of her defences and for me is never going to fight at bantamweight again and never would have even before taking the Nina Hughes fight. She’s now given her side of the Hughes fight falling through but as soon as that fight was made I knew there would be pull outs or Courtenay failing to make weight. I reckon Nina Hughes will soon be on IFL or whoever giving her side of it. Hughes did give her side of it at the time as well.

Obviously I’m sad to hear Courtenay has been suffering badly with her mental health and hopefully that is behind her.

I haven’t seen the weigh in but id be willing to bet before the weigh in that she will not be weighing in under 9 stone. If it ends up she has then I will be surprised. The world title scene at 126 and 130 I think will be too much for her with respect but I hope she can find peace with her career before she retires.

[mickey1975]

I’ve been critical of Shannon and ultimately given how she was in the lead up to the Ebanie Bridges fight she does put herself out there for criticism with how outspoken she is about her opponents. She had a go at Bridges for playing the beauty card but she, herself, used to do these Instagram stories with herself pouting and so on. She then missed weight for one of her defences and for me is never going to fight at bantamweight again and never would have even before taking the Nina Hughes fight. She’s now given her side of the Hughes fight falling through but as soon as that fight was made I knew there would be pull outs or Courtenay failing to make weight. I reckon Nina Hughes will soon be on IFL or whoever giving her side of it. Hughes did give her side of it at the time as well.

Obviously I’m sad to hear Courtenay has been suffering badly with her mental health and hopefully that is behind her.

I haven’t seen the weigh in but id be willing to bet before the weigh in that she will not be weighing in under 9 stone. If it ends up she has then I will be surprised. The world title scene at 126 and 130 I think will be too much for her with respect but I hope she can find peace with her career before she retires.

She also said she was pressured into acting like someone she wasn't and that was the complete opposite of the real her.