Adam Azim’s rise from ‘p***ing out the window’ to becoming scary boxing star

Adam Azim’s hyperactive tendencies once saw him ‘p*** out of the window’ – now, a window of opportunity has opened for Britain’s biggest boxing prospect since Amir Khan to fulfil his terrifying potential.

The British-Pakistani super lightweight recently put pen to paper on a four-year contract with BOXXER on Sky Sports in a move which appears to be as fitting as it is exciting. Boxxer CEO Ben Shalom, the newest promoter on the block who has experienced a lightning fast ascent into the boxing world himself, recently joked he is struggling to find opponents with enough courage and quality to take on the precocious 20-year-old.

Azim’s last five victories have been via a brutal TKO. He demolished Argentinean ace Michel Cabral within the first round and crowned his celebration with a back-flip. However, it has been a long and difficult path for the fighter, who has been touted to become the youngest active world champion.

Read More: Ben Shalom claims backflipping unbeaten British sensation is terrifying other boxers

Growing up in Slough, Azim is the first to admit he used to be a handful. His route into the boxing world was paved by a diagnosis of ADHD when he was younger. “It’s funny because when I was really young, I used to bang my head all the time – I used to be so hyper,” Azim said in an exclusive interview with Daily Star Sport.

“And with my ADHD, when I was a kid, it’s funny, because I p***ed out the window once. That’s how hyper I was when I was young. Obviously, when I went to the doctors, the doctors said ‘you need to put him into a sport that can help drain his energy’. I tried cricket. I would bat and bowl, but I didn’t like fielding because I had that energy.

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“Also, when I was doing football, I was good at football, but I was a much better boxer. Then I started boxing at four, out the back in the garage and that’s where I started.” Azim’s youthful years may very well paint a picture of a youngster with more zing, zang, and energy for his own good.

However, the outstanding Shane McGuigan has taken him under his wing – just like he did with Carl Frampton, David Haye, George Groves, and Josh Taylor, Azim appears to be heading down a path paved by boxing gold. Everything a super-lightweight needs, including a world class coach, is seemingly at his disposal.

He dips, swerves, and dinks away from punches, coils, and tenses like a viper, before striking with such ferocious power and sniper-like accuracy. And under the watchful eye of McGuigan and a deep introspection into his own mind, he has turned what could have been his biggest weakness, into his most deadly strength – his own mind.

“I’ve learned to control my ADHD really well. I’ve learned to control myself with my sparring, I’ve controlled myself outside the ring as well. I have my team, like Shane McGuigan.

“He says to me, ‘when you’re sparring, don’t let your head takeover, control yourself’. I have had some moments where I have been sparring, but have been really angry because of my ADHD.

“Personally, I have controlled myself really well. From the last fight, I was so calm. Obviously, I stopped the opponent, I calmly did the backflip, and I knew straight away, once I stop him, ‘just stay calm’ and that’s it.

“For this fight coming up, I have been training really hard and I have been waiting for this fight as well. For me to take this fight, the critics, the fans, and the people who want to see me in big challenging fights, this is the best way to get my profile up.”

Azim will headline his first ever fight when he takes on the experienced Rylan Charlton on November 29. He will be the main event for Boxxer’s unique ‘Super Sunday’ event at Alexandra Palace. As good as he has been in his previous victories, the spotlight will burn brighter than ever before,

Not that he is alien to the glare of British boxing expectation. Those lights have been burning brightly ever since Amir Khan tipped him to win a world championship at a younger age than he did. At 20-years-old, he has around 16 months to win boxing gold before he reaches Khan’s age – not that he is daunted by the prospect.

“You know what, it’s a privilege,” Azim replied when asked about the comparisons with Khan. “Obviously, Amir Khan is a legend of the sport. I remember the times when I used to watch his fights and he paved the way for the British/Pakistanis. You know he inspired me when I was a young boy.

“I thank him a lot for what he has done. But I want to become the next British/Pakistani world champion at a young age. I can be a role model for the new generations coming up.” However, he will need to overcome some tremendous opposition to snatch boxing gold in quicker time than Khan. Alberto Puello and former Team GB Olympic hero Josh Taylor both have razor tight grips of the super-lightweight class, while unbeaten, 29-0 lightweight ace Devin Haney has an undisputed grip on the lightweight division.

But Azim is not one to baulk at the task of taking on some of the most dangerous fighters in his division or even going up a weight class to take on a fighter who is appearing more unstoppable with every victory.

“I can say to myself ‘I can get in the ring with him right now’,” a bustling Azim added. “But I need to have the experience first. I need to get more rounds, fight higher level opponents – in the next one, you guys will see more of me.

“That fight [against Haney] when it comes, I know that I will be ready. I know for a fact I have the potential to beat him and could even say stop him. I don’t think he will be able to handle my speed.”

Registration for pre-sale tickets for Adam Azim's first headline bout is open now at Boxxer.com.

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