Sergey Lipinets has arrived in Wembley with a warning for Adam Azim.
Azim and Lipinets fight this Saturday at the OVO Arena Wembley, live on Sky Sports.
Lipinets, who used to hold the IBF super-lightweight title, has boxed a litany of elite fighters, including Mikey Garcia, Lamont Peterson and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. He dismissed Azim’s pre-fight boasts.
Azim has threatened to retire Lipinets but the former world champion hit back. “Everybody will see in the ring what happens. The ring will show who’s a good fighter and who knocks who out,” Lipinets told Sky Sports.
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Sergey Lipinets speaks to Sky Sports Boxing’s Andy Scott as the 35-year-old former world champion is set to face Adam Azim at Wembley Arena
He will be gunning for a stoppage win himself. “I try to do it. Because it’s boxing. I try to win against him, he tries to win against me,” Lipinets said.
“It’s the best man wins. I will try to knock him out and we will see how good he is.”
He does rate his opponent. “He’s a good boxer, very young. A talent, he’s fast, smart, has a good shot. He has many knockouts and I expect he will be aggressive,” Lipinets said of Azim. “We will see what he has. I have respect for him.
“He will be ready for this fight and we show for all fans a very nice, big drama show of boxing.”
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Adam Azim speaks ahead of his bout with Sergey Lipinets and how reading Harry Potter books has helped him step outside his comfort zone
His last bout was an exciting victory over Robbie Davies in which he dropped the Briton – a former gym-mate of Azim’s – three times as he recorded a unanimous decision victory.
He wants something similar in this bout at Wembley Arena. “It will be the same. Aggressive. Fast. I hope we have the same fight with Azim with many knockdowns, many good shots. What all fans love, what I love,” Lipinets said.
“I’m glad to be here, it’s my first time in London. Everything’s good. I’m ready and I want to show [something] for all fans of boxing and especially for UK fans. I know here fans really love boxing and I want to show a firefight.”
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A new ringside angle has emerged of Adam Azim landing a huge body shot to down Ohara Davies in their bout on Saturday
Lipinets remains determined to win a world title once again and this contest with Azim is his stepping stone towards doing that.
“Of course I have motivation because it’s my dream to be a world champion again and it’s my chance,” he said.
“This is why I’ve been training hard because I believe I can win. And I will.”
Watch Adam Azim vs Sergey Lipinets on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 7pm. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
