Adam Azim is officially set for his next outing, as a December 4 fight against Gabriel Valenzuela at the Copper Box is now formally on the schedule. During an appearance for the opening presser, Azim would share his thoughts on being relatively inactive this year and his expectations to get things back on track. Here’s some of what he had to say below.

Azim on facing Valenzuela

“Gabriel Valenzuela is a great opponent, very tricky, quite awkward, can punch as well. I’m not looking past him. He’s fought some great fighters like Delgado, Subriel Matias, and yeah, I’m going to put on a great performance December 4th and look very good.

“…at the end of the day I’m at the [cusp] of becoming world champion and I ain’t looking past him.”

On how he would assess his 2026 campaign

“Of course it’s been frustrating, being in camp for a very long time. I had an injury, had to pull out. But everything happens for a reason. I’m going to have my second fight in December and hopefully next year I’m going to be out three times.

“At the end of the day, like next year I want to be active as much as I want. I want to fight in January, I want to fight in like July, and then December or something. But I want to fight Dalton Smith next year. And hopefully I’m on the [cusp] to become a world champion and hopefully me and him can make it happen.”

On his world title aspirations

“I’m in a grateful for the position I’m in now. Hopefully, have this fight with flying colors and hopefully go into a world title fight. I think that’s my plan.”

On believing he’s the A-side over Dalton Smith

“140 is a great division and hopefully once I have a world title then I’ve got a lot of opportunities — I’ve got Shakur, I’ve got Dalton, I’ve got like Antuanne Russell. There’s loads of names in the division but I’m not looking past Gabriel Valenzuela first.”

Roy Jones Jr. believes Vasiliy Lomachenko can still be competitive at 38, provided he drops down to 130 pounds and adjusts his approach following a layoff of over two years. Even with those changes, Jones views unified champion O’Shaquie Foster as a dangerous test for Lomachenko right now.

“I think that break gave him a chance to re-evaluate the whole situation and see that he should be fighting 130, which is true. And now he can go out the way he wants to go out,” Jones said on Hall of Game. Citing the Devin Haney bout as evidence, Jones explained that lightweight was simply too big for Lomachenko. He also noted that the extended hiatus likely gave the two-time Olympic gold medalist a much-needed mental reset after a grueling career.

Before Lomachenko even considers a title shot against Foster, he is expected to return against Charly Suarez, a tough super featherweight contender who gave Emanuel Navarrete major problems in their clash.

Taking on a high-motor opponent like Suarez right out of a two-year absence carries obvious risk, leaving Lomachenko little room to shake off ring rust. Still, Jones believes Lomachenko remains more skilled than 75% of the active boxers in the sport. Doubting a two-time Olympic gold medalist overlooks the fact that elite fundamentals and ring IQ do not simply vanish after two years away.

The real test against a relentless pressure fighter like Suarez, or a master technician like Foster, will be how frequently Lomachenko can still dart to his opponent’s blind side and fire before they have time to turn. While he might pull that off in short bursts, surviving twelve rounds means finding ways to score from a stationary position. That becomes critical against an opponent who uses a stiff jab to dictate range and force him to reset.

“To me, O’Shaquie is peaking right now. So that’s the wrong time to really mess with him,” Jones added. Foster proved that point against Emanuel Navarrete by controlling distance, clinching effectively on the inside, and maintaining enough power to score a knockdown in the twelfth round. Lomachenko would need to bait Foster into overextending before creating his signature angles, though Foster possesses the discipline to force Lomachenko to initiate the action.

Ultimately, Jones thinks Lomachenko’s deep amateur pedigree gives him the tools to trouble Foster if he evolves his game. The main thing to watch at super featherweight is whether Lomachenko can bait reactions with his jab and feints. If he can pull a younger opponent out of stance first, his footwork will only need to do half the work.

Fight fans are desperate to see pound-for-pound stars Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis face off in the near future, but there is one reigning world champion that is hoping that he can work his way into fights with both men.

Stevenson has appeared only once during 2026 and has not fought since January, with his move to Zuffa Boxing seemingly stopping his career in its tracks, this causing him to recently force a release from his contract.

Meanwhile, ‘Tank’ Davis is winless since June 2024; drawing with Lamont Roach Jnr in his lone outing since then. Whilst external legal issues have kept him inactive from March 2025, it seems as though the return of WBA lightweight ‘champion-in-recess’ could be around the corner.

Speaking to ESNEWSWilliam Zepeda, who claimed the WBC lightweight world title with a victory over Roach back in August, said he hopes to avenge his July 2025 defeat to Stevenson.

“Yes [I want the rematch]. He’s very intelligent, left-handed, very fast.He doesn’t have a great punch, but he’s very fast; he’s very good.”

The Mexican southpaw also outlined his desire to take on Davis, believing that opportunity would allow him to ‘demonstrate his quality as a fighter’.

“With Tank, he’s a really strong fighter, but very clever. Skilful. I think it would be more of a test for me to be able to pass and demonstrate that I have the quality of good boxing.”

Davis is currently expected to take on George Kambosos Jr. when he puts an end to his ongoing 20-month run of inactivity, with that contest rumoured to take place in the super-lightweight division in early 2027.

Before Zepeda can look to secure either fight, he will face undefeated interim champion Jadier Herrera on March 13 next year.