Boxer Adam Azim is already planning a future unification mega-fight against rival Dalton Smith while he edges closer to a world title opportunity. Azim felt unimpressed by Smith defeating Alberto Puello, which allowed the Sheffield fighter to retain his WBC super-lightweight belt. However, the twenty-four-year-old felt relieved when the split decision was announced because it keeps a potential grudge match between the two Britons alive.

Azim steps back into the ring on December 4 to face Gabriel Gollaz at the Copper Box Arena in an IBF title eliminator. Winning this contest places him in line for a shot at the vacant belt, paving the way toward a future unification meeting with Smith.

Azim stated on the SunBoxing Corner Talk podcast: “My eye is on the world title. That’s always been my ambition as a youngster myself when I was growing up, always wanting to become a world champion. So, I think it makes sense for me to win a world title, then fight Dalton. So, I think we could see the Dalton Smith fight happen next year. Dalton’s well older than me, so I think he’s going to be 30, I’m 24, so I’ve still got a lot of time. But next year, I think that’s when we can make the fight happen, I reckon, because we’re both in our primes.”

The Home of Boxing in 2026

There is a massive year of boxing ahead.

It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon.

All eyes are focused on the Battle of Britain between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, with the pair set to finally settle their decade-long rivalry in December.

But before that, Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween.

Here are all the big fights coming up.

October

  • Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN

November

  • Sat 7 – Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson 2 – DAZN
  • Sat 7 – Chris Billam-Smith vs Cheavon Clarke – Sky Sports
  • Sat 28 – Agit Kabayel vs Nelson Hysa & DAZN

December

  • Fri 11 – Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua – Netflix
  • Sat 12 – Dmitry Bivol vs Callum Smith – DAZN
  • Sat 19 – Anthony Cacace vs Nick Ball – DAZN

Azim added: “He has a world title belt already, I need to get one, I need to grab one, and then we can make a unification.”

Smith promoter Eddie Hearn argued that Azim, who holds a 15-0 record with 12 stoppages, and his representatives were unrealistic during previous talks. Yet the former European champion believes that securing a world title himself will eliminate any arguments regarding purse splits.

He stated: “We all know I’m the bigger name than Dalton. If you walk down the street, no one really knows Dalton Smith. You’ve got Kell Brook and Amir Khan. Amir Khan’s always the popular one, isn’t he? And the bigger name than Kell Brook. But obviously, if that was me and Dalton, then it’s the same scenario there where I’m the bigger name than Dalton. If I do win a world title, then we both can probably do a 50/50. It both would be fair.”

Smith, a supporter of Sheffield Wednesday, is searching for opponents to help fill the 35,000-seat Hillsborough Stadium. This could present an ideal opportunity for British boxing to add another domestic grudge match to a growing list of stadium events.

Azim said: “That would be very good. I want to win a world title just because I want to become world champion. But also on the other side, I want to make the fight as big as possible because it’s a big, massive unification with two Brits, and the whole country would come out for it. It’s like a Kell Brook and Amir Khan, and a Carl Froch and George Groves. And it’s a bit like the unification fight against Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg.”