Adam Azim has moved nearer to the world title dialog after watching home rival Dalton Smith win the WBC junior welterweight championship with a stoppage victory over Subriel Matias in Brooklyn.
Smith turned the primary of Britain’s main 140-pound contenders to safe a significant world title, pulling forward in a rivalry that has adopted each fighters by way of their early skilled careers. Azim stays unbeaten and now faces the hardest combat of his profession when he meets Gustavo Daniel Lemos on January 31 on the Copper Field Area in London, England.
The bout represents a transparent step up. Azim and Lemos are each positioned contained in the IBF’s prime ten, making the combat greater than a routine protection of momentum. A win would preserve Azim in direct vary of the title image. A loss would gradual his climb at a key second.
“It’s a large showdown. It’s a bit like Khan versus Kell Brook or unification Scott Quigg versus [Carl Frampton],” mentioned Azim to Ring Journal a couple of conflict between him and Dalton Smith.
The IBF junior welterweight title is at present held by Richardson Hitchins, with a number of contenders grouped carefully behind him within the rankings. Azim’s camp has focused a title alternative in 2026, with the Lemos combat serving as the ultimate proving floor earlier than that push.
Additional down the road, an all-British unification with Smith stays a risk if Azim secures a belt of his personal. Smith has already established himself at world degree. Azim’s activity now’s incomes his place in that dialog.
For now, the main focus stays on January 31. The end result in opposition to Lemos will decide how rapidly Azim can transfer from contender to challenger.
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Boxing • Boxing Information • Adam Azim Targets Title Path After Dalton Smith’s WBC Win
Final Up to date on 01/16/2026
