Ben Shalom reveals blockbuster combat between Azim and Smith may occur this 12 months
An all-British blockbuster between Adam Azim and Dalton Smith is “inevitable” in keeping with Ben Shalom, with the promoter revealing it may occur later this 12 months.
Likening the rivalry between the pair to the Kell Brook-Amir Khan feud, which simmered for over a decade earlier than they lastly met contained in the ring, the BOXXER founder, who’s answerable for guiding Azim’s profession, issued the prediction forward of Smith’s problem for the vacant European super-lightweight title this weekend.
The unbeaten Sheffield fighter and his camp have accused Azim of intentionally avoiding them, with Sheffield’s Smith famously gatecrashing a social media interview involving Shalom in the course of the build-up to a latest Riyadh Season present in Saudi Arabia.
However, talking completely to SportsBoom, he mentioned: “It [Azim vs Smith] will certainly occur. I’m positive of it. I’m sure.
“Adam and Dalton are constructing their very own careers. They’re constructing their very own resumes.
“Though there’s been loads of backwards and forwards, I believe that solely advantages the fighters themselves, in the end.
“That’s as a result of it builds it extra. It’s an unlimited combat and I positively suppose there’s likelihood of it taking place this 12 months.”
Regardless of being ranked quantity two by the WBC, whose silver belt he captured practically 12 months in the past, Smith is intent on taking what he describes as a “conventional” path to the highest.
That explains why, having already captured the British and Commonwealth crowns, he’s ready to threat his unblemished run as knowledgeable by going through France’s Walid Ouizza at Nottingham Enviornment on Saturday evening.
Azim, 5 years Smith’s junior and in addition unbeaten, beforehand held the EBU strap however opted to relinquish it.
He faces Sergey Lipinets for the IBO World title on February 1st.
Azim’s course of journey has prompted criticism from Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who has publicly berated the Slough man for avoiding Smith. Shalom didn’t escape Hearn’s wrath both.
However quite than being drawn right into a disagreement with Smith and his steady, Azim’s handler mentioned: “In case you are a giant star, like Adam is, you’re on huge reveals and do huge numbers then you definitely’re all the time going to have a goal in your again.
“That’s simply the way in which it’s. It occurs. We don’t learn something into it.
“Whenever you’re in that place, persons are all the time going to desire a piece of you. They know that it might probably assist them and propel them up. It’s all advantageous. It’s all good.
“If there’s to’ing and fro’ing between individuals then, for my part, it simply makes a combat even greater,” Shalom continued.
“I don’t take any of what’s mentioned personally. I don’t take it as individuals criticising. I simply see it as a part of the enterprise, a part of what occurs.
“So far as I’m involved, it’s inevitable that combat goes to occur.”
Shalom, whose present take care of SKY Sports activities is scheduled to run out inside the subsequent 11 months, was answerable for arranging the present which noticed Brook defeat one other former world champion, Khan, three years in the past.
The conflict got here 20 years after the pair first shared the ring as amateurs.
Satisfied Azim (12-0) and Smith (16-0) are destined to satisfy, Shalom’s precedence is to make sure that doesn’t occur when each fighters are previous their prime.
“What’s occurring between Adam and Dalton does remind me loads of what went on between Kell and Amir,” he mentioned.
“That one was nice, nevertheless it befell too late, actually. It might’ve been nice to see it occur sooner, with hindsight, regardless that that wasn’t attainable for all kinds of various causes.
“However I’m positive, within the not-so-distant future, you’re going to see these two get in there collectively. It’s constructing properly and I’m positive it would proceed to take action.”
