Adam Azim stared down to make sure his magic number registered on the scale.
Confirmation was provided by emcee Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts, who “10 stone!” (140 pounds), the junior welterweight limit. The unbeaten 22-year-old from Slough, Berkshire, will face compatriot Ohara Davies, who weighed in at a comfortable 139lbs.
Their scheduled 12-round bout will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK from Copper Box Arena in Hackney Wick, England on Saturday. Peacock+ will also stream the BOXXER promoted card live in the US starting at 2pm ET.
Azim (11-0, 8 KOs) will fight for just the second time in 2024 after just three fights a year ago. Injuries have slowed his 2023 progress slightly. Falling fight dates and failed negotiations have stalled his momentum this year.
Given his age and 5’10” frame, the wonder is whether he can stay at 140 long enough to make it to the major title stage.
For now, the only goal for Azim is to get past a tested veteran on the rebound.
Davies (25-3, 18 KOs) has not won since a ninth-round knockout of Lewis Ritson last March in Newcastle, England. The performance earned him a mandatory contender slot, though he had to settle for a shot at the interim belt. It ended in disaster as he was defeated in 113 seconds by Ismael ‘Abuelo’ Barroso on January 6th in Las Vegas.
The 32-year-old from Hackney, London, had won six in a row up to that point. It’s now back to the drawing board for Davies, though he has already threatened retirement even with a win on Saturday.
Below are the weights for the rest of the undercard.
Adam Azim (11-0, 8 KOs), Slough, Berkshire, 140 lbs
Ohara Davies (25-3, 18 KOs), Hackney, London, 139 lbs
Anthony Yarde (25-3, 24 KOs), Ilford, Essex, 179 lbs
Ralfs Vilcans (17-1, 7 KOs), Riga, Latvia, 177 ½ lbs
10 rounds, light heavyweight
Dan Azeez (20-1-1, 13 KOs), Lewisham, London, 174 lbs
Lewis Edmondson (9-0, 3 KOs), Southampton, Hampshire, 174 ½ lbs
12 rounds, light heavyweight
Michael McKinson (26-1, 4 KOs), Portsmouth, Hampshire, 146 ½ lbs
Tulani Mbenge (20-2, 15 KOs), Eastern Cape, South Africa, 146 ½ pounds
12 rounds, welterweight
Jeamie Tshikeva (6-1, 3 KOs), Tottenham, London, 258 lbs
Franklin Ignatius (6-0-1, 1 KO), Dagenham, Essex, 230 ½ lbs
10 rounds of heavyweight
Francesca Hennessy (4-0, 1 KO), Sevenoaks, Kent, 121 ½ lbs
Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes (5-0, 2 KOs), Sao Paulo, Brazil, 120 ½ lbs
8 rounds, junior featherweight
Sam Hickey (pro debut), Dundee, Scotland, 161 ½ lbs
John Henry Mosquera (5-18, 1 KO), Venice, Italy, 162 lbs
4 rounds, middleweight
Shannon Courtenay (8-2, 3 KOs), Watford, Hertfordshire, 128 ½ lbs
Catherine Tacone (5-3-1, 0 KOs), 124 lbs
6 rounds, featherweight
