Adam Azim has revealed every day in the gym in front of Barry McGuigan fires him up to be even better.
The Shane McGuigan-trained light-welterweight has been tuning in to see his mentor star in the I’m a Celebrity jungle over the last few weeks. Former world champion McGuigan Snr will be back in his son’s gym soon after he left the ITV show this week.
It’s where Azim, 22, will be preparing for his February date with Russian Sergey Lipinets.
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“It is amazing to have Barry in the gym, he’s a legend of the sport,” said Azim, who is 12-0 in the sport. “It’s very inspiring to watch him on the show, he’s a very good person to be around, he’s all character.
“For me to be around him, Shane and that is always inspirational. He comes in the gym and when you see him there, you want to perform even better in sparring.
“But then you’re getting advice off a former world champion, a boxing icon. Shane is a great trainer but having Barry is an added bonus.”
(Image: ITV)
Azim will take on former world champion Lipinets in another step up for the promising British talent. But the talk is of when he will settle a growing rivalry with compatriot Dalton Smith, another highly-rated fighter.
Azim said: “Do you know what? I could fight Smith next year. The thing about him is that I don’t really need him, he needs me. He thinks I’m not talking about him because I don’t want to fight him?
“I will teach him a lesson when we do fight and when they mention my name in front of him again then he will say ‘Yeah Adam Azim, he’s a great fighter’. I will teach him a lesson. I’m not holding back with him anymore.
“He can talk all he wants. I’m sick and tired of that guy. I’m 22 and he’s 28, calling me out. What was he doing at 22? He’s not even a big name now. I’m the bigger name. People saying Adam ain’t ready for Dalton? He ain’t ready for me and I’ll prove that.”