BOXING NEWS

ANOTHER LEVEL: ADAM AZIM STEPS UP TO FACE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION SERGEY LIPINETS FOR IBO WORLD TITLE ON FEBRUARY 1ST IN LONDON

Adam Azim faces former world champion Sergey Lipinets for the IBO World Super Lightweight Title on Saturday, February 1st at the OVO Arena Wembley in London

LONDON, UK (December 3, 2024) – Adam Azim is ready to take it to another level as he faces former world champion Sergey Lipinets for the IBO World Super Lightweight Championship on Saturday, February 1st at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, presented by BOXXER, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Azim (12-0, 9 KOs) returns to the ring following an emphatic stoppage win over Ohara Davies on October 19th at the Copper Box Arena. The undefeated 22-year-old looked at his best as he dictated the action and dominated Davies from the opening bell, dropping the Londoner in the fifth-round before ending the fight in spectacular fashion in the eighth.

Having previously won and defended the European Title in record-time with victories over Franck Petitjean and Enock Poulsen, Azim steps up to world level as he aims to prove he is ready to take on the best in the division.

Lipinets (18-3-1, 13 KOs) is the former IBF World Super Lightweight Champion. The Kazakhstan-born fighter captured the IBF belt with a unanimous points win over Akihiro Kondo at the Brooklyn Center in November 2017.

The 35-year-old has since established himself as one of the top contenders in the super lightweight and welterweight divisions with notable victories over former world champions Lamont Peterson and Omar Figueroa Jr.

Lipinets’ latest bout was a ‘Fight Of The Year’ contender against Azim’s countryman and former gym mate Robbie Davies Jr. Lipinets scored a unanimous points win over the British boxer in a ten-round thriller, showcasing his power by sending Davies Jr to the canvas once in the fifth round and twice in the eighth.

Adam Azim said: “This fight is another step up for me. I’m looking forward to sharing the ring with a great fighter like Sergey Lipinets. He is a former world champion. He has fought some of the biggest names out there. I have a lot of respect for him and what he’s achieved in the sport, but it’s my time now. This is a chance for me to show that I belong at world level and that I’m ready to face the best. Lipinets has had a great career but on February 1st, he’s standing in my way, this is the next step of my journey, and nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dreams.”

Sergey Lipinets said: “I’m glad that Adam has accepted this fight. A lot of top fighters have refused to face me. I’ve never turned down a fight and this one is make or break for me. Adam is young and strong but he doesn’t have my experience. I’ve seen it all. May the best man win.”

SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS BROOKLYN HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT PRYCE TAYLOR

Former College Basketball Standout Debuts on the Next Edition of “Big Time Boxing USA” on Thursday, Dec. 12 in Flint, Mich.

DETROIT (Nov. 19, 2024) – Salita Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor, a former amateur standout who, like his new promoter Dmitriy Salita, learned the sweet science in New York City’s Brooklyn borough.

A professional for just under a year, the 28-year-old Taylor (4-0, 2 KOs) will be featured on the next edition of “BIG TIME BOXING USA”, boxing’s premier talent developmental series, in Flint, Mich., on Thursday, December 12, airing live on global streaming service DAZN. The fight card is already loaded with some of boxing’s top prospects, including Michigan’s Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes Jr., Joey Spencer, Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith and Leon Lawson III, and is arguably Salita’s best since the BIG TIME BOXING USA series launched in February.

Taylor is managed by Keith Sullivan and trained by Benny Roman and hopes to continue the tradition of Brooklyn-born heavyweight world champions such as Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Shannon Briggs and Floyd Patterson.

“I have been very impressed by what I’ve seen from Pryce in both the amateurs and in his first four professional bouts,” said Salita, who adds Taylor to a formidable stable of champions and contenders including Claressa Shields, Shohjahon Ergashev, Jermaine Franklin, Joshua Pagan and Vladimir Shishkin. “Pryce has a great chance to compete for a world title in the near future. He has all the skill and physical attributes to become the next great American heavyweight champion. It will be an exciting journey, and we are proud that he has entrusted Salita Promotions to help guide him to the top.”

The 6-foot-4 Taylor is a former college basketball player who took up boxing at the age of 20 when he was introduced to the sport by members of the Cops & Kids Boxing Club in Brooklyn. Taylor quickly learned the craft and imposed his will in amateur competitions, building a record of 60 wins, 11 losses. He won two New York Golden Gloves titles and was the heavyweight runner-up four times in annual USA National Championship tournaments. In 2020, Taylor narrowly missed qualifying to represent his country at the Tokyo Olympic Games, falling just short at U.S.A. Boxing team trials in Louisiana.

“I’m very happy to have signed with Salita Promotions,” said Taylor. “My manager and I reviewed several offers, and we believe that working with Salita is a great opportunity and in my best interest. I’m still learning and developing so it’s helpful to have a promoter who was an accomplished fighter, who knows the path to the top. I can’t wait to get started, get on big shows, and into main events. I’m excited for the future.”

Sullivan added: “Today marks the beginning of an exciting journey for Pryce Taylor. Salita Promotions made it clear that they believe in Pryce’s ability and talent. I’m confident that Dmitriy and his team will help Pryce’s career reach great heights. We’re pleased to welcome them to the team.”

Taylor has worked with top heavyweights and served as a sparring partner to such notables as Jared Anderson, Filip Hrgovic, Jarrrell Miller, Otto Wallin and Brandon Glanton.