British live-wire Adam Azim wasted no time after Saturday's fight at Madison Square Garden, inviting a hurt, but still dangerous George Kambosos Jr. to meet him on September 25. The 23-year-old tweeted "let's get it on" within hours of Kambosos' eighth-round body-shot loss to IBF junior-welterweight ruler Richardson Hitchins, suggesting the Aussie a quick return to meaningful fights and a significant test of Azim's surging profile.
Kambosos has been in the wilderness the last two years since stunning Teófimo López for the lightweight throne in 2021. Since then he has lost in a pair of decisions to Devin Haney, a decision loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko and now Saturday's stoppage. He now sits at 22-4 (10 KOs), and isn't sure of what the future holds for him. A brief social media post hinted retirement, but Azim's public challenge might entice the “Ferocious” Sydneysider to try and find a payday and a chance to prove the fresh doubters wrong.
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For Azim, a September date will keep the momentum going after serving up a statement stoppage of ex-belt-holder Sergey Lipinets. A slated run-out vs Eliot Chavez fell apart on weigh-in day, but Slough's pug and major-fighter before the end of the year is well overdue. Kambosos certainly fits the bill: still an established name, still a warrior by nature, and styled perfectly for Azim's fast hands and seek-and-destroy outlook.
Now it will be the turn of the promotional diaries. If contracts come back, then September 25 could see boxing's rising "Assassin" Azim, face-off against a former unified champion in Kambosos who still wants to prove he isn't done. On paper it's a crossroads; in the ring it could go off like fireworks.
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