Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets | Sky Sports - 1 February 2025

[Miguello]

I don't get how people can be impressed by this.

A massive weight bully with insane reach beating up a tiny 35 year old with T rex arms.

He could easily fight at 154.

He makes weight. As long as his opponents are in the right weight class that’s fine.

35 is closer to prime than 22…. And lip has always been a 140 (well actually spent a lot of time at 147)….

Excluding usyk and Bivol look at the p4p list… nearly everyone’s been a weight bully at some point…

Scales and fight night are a different story and the difference needs to be regulated otherwise it will be the death of this already corrupt sport from more and more mismatches.

Recent boxing legends mayweather, golovkin, ward etc were not weight bullies. The new generation is taking it to another level and it will only harm the sport.

and at these weights, being 22 is far better than being 35 especially if you're someone like Lipinets with a lot of wear and tear. They wouldn't have made this fight if he posed a real risk.

[jameswilson]

Azim taking pelters on here I thought he was quality, boxed a mature fight, apart from constantly hitting Lipinets in the balls and landing up getting docked a couple of points he boxed well, controlled the tempo, looked sharp first half, working the lead hand well, jabbing and hooking, easily outmanoeuvring Lipinets,, the knockdown in the 3rd was top drawer, Azim slipping out of danger and dropping him with a peach of left hook, Lipinets is nails though, kept pressing with the high guard and looking to close the gap, his beard is incredible, second half of the fight Azim held his feet,worked inside and started mailing Lipinets with the right hand, especially they uppercuts, literally couldn't miss, he absolutely battered Lipinets in the 8th, only heart keeping him up, it's a disgrace his corner sent him out for the 9th, no surprise it was the right uppercuts which had the ref stopping it, aye I was impressed bar the low blows but always a risk when a tall fighter is throwing body shots against a short guy

Yeah he won handily and looked good. As has been said he hit low a lot but not to the point a dq was merited.

I’ll probably give him stick for a while tho due to this selective ness with fights. It seems very clear he has turned down three decent fights for the Eubank undercard and given that’s the case don’t go talking about what you’ll do to Dalton smith you just end up looking like more of a prat, especially as that’s not the only fight you’ve rejected for the Eubank card.

[coneye]

Facts are he's younger , stronger , bigger , than his old opponent who was brought to lose , and dispite winning comfortable , he did'nt look that great ,, his opponent for most part was a punchbag , but yet he allowed himself to be brought into a toe to toe , body spar with someone who was knackered and hurt with every good headshot , why did him and his coach allow it , then theres the low blows , 1-2-3- fair enough , but when your getting 2 a rnd in thats bollocks , .

I know if i was i Lipinets corner , i would of said to him , its on purpose , he knows he's at home and not gonna get DQ , he knows what he's doing , your not gonna get a win , SO next time he does it HEADBUTT HIM and hit him low back , give him a 3 inch cut on his brow , and see how he likes it , , Shanes boxers seem to do a bit of low blows , does he make them practice in the gym .

And that brings me too others saying he did'nt warrant a disqualification , so i'll ask HOW many times should a boxer be allowed to low blow , , how many before a warning he had a few , then how many before a point, he had a few more , then how many before the 2nd warning , because he done a blatant one just before the second warning , how many before a DQ , Think if it was him in mexico , copping the same low blows , Shane , the commentators and british fans , would all have a lot to say about it , and he was tall fighting in close had nothing to do with it , body sparring like he was ,just prolonged the fight and the stoppage

Can well see why there turning fights down

[samwbr]

Did he call for the fight v Dalton?

[CaptainSpacerod]

He looked pretty good to my untrained eye. Seems to throw a lot of single shots instead of combos but if you're landing as many as he does then i suppose it doesn't matter.

I don't see why he shouldn't celebrate beating a quality campaigner like Lipinets and he's well within his rights to call out Smith. Who's Smith ever fought apart from a washed up Zepeda who might not be as good a name to have on your resume as Lipinets.

Comes across well when interviewed too, good luck to him

[Steveh583]

I don't get how people can be impressed by this.

A massive weight bully with insane reach beating up a tiny 35 year old with T rex arms.

He could easily fight at 154.

He makes weight. As long as his opponents are in the right weight class that’s fine.

35 is closer to prime than 22…. And lip has always been a 140 (well actually spent a lot of time at 147)….

Excluding usyk and Bivol look at the p4p list… nearly everyone’s been a weight bully at some point…

Scales and fight night are a different story and the difference needs to be regulated otherwise it will be the death of this already corrupt sport from more and more mismatches.

Recent boxing legends mayweather, golovkin, ward etc were not weight bullies. The new generation is taking it to another level and it will only harm the sport.

and at these weights, being 22 is far better than being 35 especially if you're someone like Lipinets with a lot of wear and tear. They wouldn't have made this fight if he posed a real risk.

mayweather not a weight bully?????? He made canelo boil down.... fought tiny marquez and still didnt make weight.... made hatton fight at welter instead of his optimum weight...... he had his moments.

[Coco]

Facts are he's younger , stronger , bigger , than his old opponent who was brought to lose , and dispite winning comfortable , he did'nt look that great ,, his opponent for most part was a punchbag , but yet he allowed himself to be brought into a toe to toe , body spar with someone who was knackered and hurt with every good headshot , why did him and his coach allow it , then theres the low blows , 1-2-3- fair enough , but when your getting 2 a rnd in thats bollocks , .

I know if i was i Lipinets corner , i would of said to him , its on purpose , he knows he's at home and not gonna get DQ , he knows what he's doing , your not gonna get a win , SO next time he does it HEADBUTT HIM and hit him low back , give him a 3 inch cut on his brow , and see how he likes it , , Shanes boxers seem to do a bit of low blows , does he make them practice in the gym .

And that brings me too others saying he did'nt warrant a disqualification , so i'll ask HOW many times should a boxer be allowed to low blow , , how many before a warning he had a few , then how many before a point, he had a few more , then how many before the 2nd warning , because he done a blatant one just before the second warning , how many before a DQ , Think if it was him in mexico , copping the same low blows , Shane , the commentators and british fans , would all have a lot to say about it , and he was tall fighting in close had nothing to do with it , body sparring like he was ,just prolonged the fight and the stoppage

Can well see why there turning fights down

About right

As I said before, looks a top talent, and when you are being touted as the next big thing, I think it's fair to critique him as a top talent.

He could have easily been disqualified for low blows, and as 2 points were already taken off(after like 10 low blows), the ref would have been pretty much obliged to DQ him for the next one.
I think this definitely contributed to the timing of the stoppage.

Now of course he is already Euro champ, more than almost everyone can dream of.

The McGuigans have matched him well, and he has been brought along excellently.

However they aren't going to let him off the leash yet, they are still careful when picking fights, they have been turning fights down, even vacating the euro people so they could avoid smith.

Now if he isn't ready this is quite sensible, he is still only 22, is not Khan or Hamed, and they may well feel with more work in the gym and more sensible fights that he will be ready.

But clearly not yet, don't get caught up in the hype.

[Coco]

He looked pretty good to my untrained eye. Seems to throw a lot of single shots instead of combos but if you're landing as many as he does then i suppose it doesn't matter.

I don't see why he shouldn't celebrate beating a quality campaigner like Lipinets and he's well within his rights to call out Smith. Who's Smith ever fought apart from a washed up Zepeda who might not be as good a name to have on your resume as Lipinets.

Comes across well when interviewed too, good luck to him

Why shouldn't he call out Smith??

Are we talking about the same fella who vacated his European belt rather than fight him??

If he wanted the belt and wanted to fight Smith, all he had to do was fight, Smith was mandatory

[margaret thatcher]

He looked pretty good to my untrained eye. Seems to throw a lot of single shots instead of combos but if you're landing as many as he does then i suppose it doesn't matter.

I don't see why he shouldn't celebrate beating a quality campaigner like Lipinets and he's well within his rights to call out Smith. Who's Smith ever fought apart from a washed up Zepeda who might not be as good a name to have on your resume as Lipinets.

Comes across well when interviewed too, good luck to him

calling smith out is awkward when he dropped his euro title when smith was mandatory

and according to turki turned down a fight with smith on the eubank-benn card

just makes him look full of hot air

but performance wise i thought he was good. lipinets is shopworn but still a good development fight for a young guy like this

[gregregegg]

I don't get how people can be impressed by this.

A massive weight bully with insane reach beating up a tiny 35 year old with T rex arms.

He could easily fight at 154.

He makes weight. As long as his opponents are in the right weight class that’s fine.

35 is closer to prime than 22…. And lip has always been a 140 (well actually spent a lot of time at 147)….

Excluding usyk and Bivol look at the p4p list… nearly everyone’s been a weight bully at some point…

Scales and fight night are a different story and the difference needs to be regulated otherwise it will be the death of this already corrupt sport from more and more mismatches.

Recent boxing legends mayweather, golovkin, ward etc were not weight bullies. The new generation is taking it to another level and it will only harm the sport.

and at these weights, being 22 is far better than being 35 especially if you're someone like Lipinets with a lot of wear and tear. They wouldn't have made this fight if he posed a real risk.

As I said hydration testing at weigh ins works but will be a huge messy change at first… . But reweighs just means people pushing it finer and finer with fighting dehydrated…

22 vs 35 at 140 is near the cross over point but I think it’s still in 35s favor… but I guess it’s debatable…

In classes 115-147ish 22 is freakishly young to be at world level, and 35 is still fairly common to be at world level. But there is always some lag going up and lag going down in age so as I said, it’s debatable.

[Miguello]

He makes weight. As long as his opponents are in the right weight class that’s fine.

35 is closer to prime than 22…. And lip has always been a 140 (well actually spent a lot of time at 147)….

Excluding usyk and Bivol look at the p4p list… nearly everyone’s been a weight bully at some point…

Scales and fight night are a different story and the difference needs to be regulated otherwise it will be the death of this already corrupt sport from more and more mismatches.

Recent boxing legends mayweather, golovkin, ward etc were not weight bullies. The new generation is taking it to another level and it will only harm the sport.

and at these weights, being 22 is far better than being 35 especially if you're someone like Lipinets with a lot of wear and tear. They wouldn't have made this fight if he posed a real risk.

mayweather not a weight bully?????? He made canelo boil down.... fought tiny marquez and still didnt make weight.... made hatton fight at welter instead of his optimum weight...... he had his moments.

Canelo was the weight bully and still lost. Against Marquez and Hatton the differences were minimal and we all know he won those soundly from his pure boxing ability. Nothing like the new era beasts Benavidez, Haney, Sheeraz.. innovation makes it all possible, just as runners are breaking records with carbon plated shoes, boxers are finding ways to make weights they shouldn't have business in.

Poor Lipinets was missing his school bag, looked like he was trying to get his lunch money back tonight, and taking CTE while doing so. That's not what this sport was built on. I grew up a die hard boxing fan and stuggle to tune in now because of what the sport is becoming.

[skanksta]

Bit harsh Coco

[coneye]

Facts are he's younger , stronger , bigger , than his old opponent who was brought to lose , and dispite winning comfortable , he did'nt look that great ,, his opponent for most part was a punchbag , but yet he allowed himself to be brought into a toe to toe , body spar with someone who was knackered and hurt with every good headshot , why did him and his coach allow it , then theres the low blows , 1-2-3- fair enough , but when your getting 2 a rnd in thats bollocks , .

I know if i was i Lipinets corner , i would of said to him , its on purpose , he knows he's at home and not gonna get DQ , he knows what he's doing , your not gonna get a win , SO next time he does it HEADBUTT HIM and hit him low back , give him a 3 inch cut on his brow , and see how he likes it , , Shanes boxers seem to do a bit of low blows , does he make them practice in the gym .

And that brings me too others saying he did'nt warrant a disqualification , so i'll ask HOW many times should a boxer be allowed to low blow , , how many before a warning he had a few , then how many before a point, he had a few more , then how many before the 2nd warning , because he done a blatant one just before the second warning , how many before a DQ , Think if it was him in mexico , copping the same low blows , Shane , the commentators and british fans , would all have a lot to say about it , and he was tall fighting in close had nothing to do with it , body sparring like he was ,just prolonged the fight and the stoppage

Can well see why there turning fights down

About right

As I said before, looks a top talent, and when you are being touted as the next big thing, I think it's fair to critique him as a top talent.

He could have easily been disqualified for low blows, and as 2 points were already taken off(after like 10 low blows), the ref would have been pretty much obliged to DQ him for the next one.
I think this definitely contributed to the timing of the stoppage.

Now of course he is already Euro champ, more than almost everyone can dream of.

The McGuigans have matched him well, and he has been brought along excellently.

However they aren't going to let him off the leash yet, they are still careful when picking fights, they have been turning fights down, even vacating the euro people so they could avoid smith.

Now if he isn't ready this is quite sensible, he is still only 22, is not Khan or Hamed, and they may well feel with more work in the gym and more sensible fights that he will be ready.

But clearly not yet, don't get caught up in the hype.

Perfectly put . Potential ..but too early for the hype . I know its part of the game . But hyping a fella to the max . Then turning down anyone with a pulse . Is.nt the way to do it

[CaptainSpacerod]

He looked pretty good to my untrained eye. Seems to throw a lot of single shots instead of combos but if you're landing as many as he does then i suppose it doesn't matter.

I don't see why he shouldn't celebrate beating a quality campaigner like Lipinets and he's well within his rights to call out Smith. Who's Smith ever fought apart from a washed up Zepeda who might not be as good a name to have on your resume as Lipinets.

Comes across well when interviewed too, good luck to him

Why shouldn't he call out Smith??

Are we talking about the same fella who vacated his European belt rather than fight him??

If he wanted the belt and wanted to fight Smith, all he had to do was fight, Smith was mandatory

Fighters improve and develop and call fighters out when it suits them, it's all part of the game

Given that Azim is several years his junior i think it's perfectly acceptable for him to have stalled on the Smith fight if that is indeed what he did

[margaret thatcher]

the call out suits him now, yet he just turned the smith fight down and got booted from the eubank-benn card for not even going with easier back ups.....doesnt add up if we are to take the callout seriously

a clear case of actions not matching words, without outright saying it i dont know how it could be more obvious that either him or his team doesnt actually want the fight now. first he dropped his euro title, then saudi money on a big card

fine, he's a younger dude and all that, but calling a guy out who youve clearly swerved even just recently is a bit lol

[margaret thatcher]

Bit harsh Coco

what is harsh about that? it's absolutely clear he swerved smith, regardless of whether that was a smart move or not

to then call out the same guy - it's just hard to take it seriously when his actions are so at odds with his words

[skanksta]

Bit harsh Coco

what is harsh about that? it's absolutely clear he swerved smith, regardless of whether that was a smart move or not

to then call out the same guy - it's just hard to take it seriously

Not that bit the earlier bit.
Azim is good, but he obviously doesn't want anyone proper good yet - obvious like you say.

[margaret thatcher]

ah got ya

[CaptainSpacerod]

the call out suits him now, yet he just turned the smith fight down and got booted from the eubank-benn card for not even going with easier back ups.....doesnt add up if we are to take the callout seriously

a clear case of actions not matching words, without outright saying it i dont know how it could be more obvious that either him or his team doesnt actually want the fight now. first he dropped his euro title, then saudi money on a big card

fine, he's a younger dude and all that, but calling a guy out who youve clearly swerved even just recently is a bit lol

Yeah fair comment Maggie

I'm not fully aware of all the ins and outs of this affair but just for argument's sake isn't it possible that getting the IBO title significantly improves his negotiating position for future fights and so it was worth relinquishing the euro belt and turning down fights on the saudi card ?

[TheLeprechaun]

Michael Webster shocking performance. Whinging and moaning to the referee every 5 seconds. About what? I'm not sure. But he was content to try to hold and spoil all night. No head movement so got pinged with every jab. Horrible to watch and I never want to see him in a ring again.

Azim was impressive. Good snap on his punches. Better on the inside than I thought. Looked improved all round. I think he beats Dalton Smith.

[a force]

Josh Taylor next? Dalton? Carteral?

He beats all of them on size and reach. He could be fighting at middleweight.

Almost every new 'big name' in boxing is using advanced sports science to be a weight bully.

Haney, Benavidez.. Azim from the UK. Not saying they don't have skills, obviously they do, but wouldn't it be great as the old saying goes to 'pick on someone your own size'.

This isn’t a new thing though is it? I started watching boxing regularly around 2005 & it’s always been like this. Look at Margarito & Williams making welterweight.

Callum Smith’s taller than Usyk & was making 168.

[coneye]

Michael Webster shocking performance. Whinging and moaning to the referee every 5 seconds. About what? I'm not sure. But he was content to try to hold and spoil all night. No head movement so got pinged with every jab. Horrible to watch and I never want to see him in a ring again.

Azim was impressive. Good snap on his punches. Better on the inside than I thought. Looked improved all round. I think he beats Dalton Smith.

You know i suppose its all about LEVELS , for the British level i suppose you can throw him bouquets , say he looked good , got the job done , ect, ect, ect ,

But if you want to hype the guy up has world level , then a couple of things need to happen , and the first is when you fight a guy smaller , older , and past his use by date , your supposed to do something , other than use your size and foul consistantly , , your supposed to do a number o him , and he did'nt dispite continual fouling which would of got him expeled anywhere else but England , dispite hitting him at will , he still struggled to put him away ,

But don't by christ sprout world level when he can't put smaller older well past it guys away , then ducks guys his own level ,

Got a feeling he's gonna be exposed has soon has he really steps up . I know I know he's only 22 , but he's not far off his peak years and being nursed is something you do to guys who your not so confident about

[Ruthless-RKO]

[SeanBrennan]

caught up with it this morning. Webster fight was not a good watch and TKV was not good to watch. I know there is no weight limit but that was really poor shape to be in.

Good win for Azim but he could easily have been DQ'ed. I'd have hoped the corner pulled Lipinets by the 7th, he was so bashed up.

[THEBUTCH]

Half decent win for Azim. Lipinets is tough but is nowhere near the fighter he was...plus the low blows damaged Sergey in the process.

When it comes to match making & guiding a boxer the McGuigans are unparalleled...which is why they haven't put Adam in with Dalton Smith, simple as !

The result isn't a foregone conclusion, but if the fight was to happen next...Smith appears to be the superior boxer IMO.

If the McGuigans thought Aziz could win they would be pushing much harder for the fight.
I don't see Aziz having the stones to square off with Smith in 2025 and will continue to duck Dalton for at least another year.