Adam Azim will face Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in an IBF world super-lightweight eliminator at London's Copper Box Arena on 4 December, BOXXER confirmed on 2 November. The scheduled contest gives both fighters a path towards a world-title opportunity.
Azim and Valenzuela take the London main event
BOXXER's announcement places Azim at the top of a London card after his stoppage of Steve Claggett in May. The promoter presents the eliminator as Azim's route towards a first world-title opportunity. The super lightweight Adam Azim told BOXXER: “This is the biggest fight of my career.”
Valenzuela has experience of that route. BOXXER recounts his previous contests with Subriel Matías and Lindolfo Delgado, including an eliminator defeat against Delgado. Valenzuela has also boxed in London before, beating Robbie Davies Jr to claim an international title. Those results give the Mexican contender relevant experience of both the opponent's market and the stakes attached to an eliminator.
SportsRivo checked BOXXER's announcement against its separate event listing. Both name Francesca Hennessy and Johanna Wonyou in a supporting interim bantamweight title contest. The announcement also lists Elliot Whale against Bobby Faulkner and a return for Frazer Clarke. BOXXER says DAZN will carry the show internationally, while its free-to-air partner for the UK and Ireland has yet to be named.
The fighters' routes to this contest
Azim's Claggett stoppage is the immediate result behind his new assignment. BOXXER describes it as a third-round finish and says Azim is now approaching his first shot at a world title. Valenzuela's earlier eliminator experience ended without that opportunity, but his win over Davies shows he has already succeeded on a British bill. The London meeting therefore tests Azim against a contender with a longer record of high-stakes bouts, rather than offering either man a title immediately.
What the eliminator changes
- An Azim win would move the British boxer closer to his stated world-title aim. The promoter has confirmed an eliminator, while a championship bout would still require a separate arrangement.
- Valenzuela can revive his route towards a title fight after his earlier eliminator defeats. The scheduled result will determine which boxer progresses.
- Hennessy and Wonyou have their own interim title contest on the supporting card. BOXXER's event listing confirms that pairing independently of the main announcement.
The next confirmed date
The fighters are scheduled to meet at the Copper Box Arena on the announced London card. BOXXER still has to identify its UK and Ireland free-to-air broadcast partner.
Source: BOXXER