Dominant Azim stops Lipinets but low blows tarnish win

A dominant Adam Azim stopped Sergey Lipinets in the ninth round but was deducted two points for low blows as he extended his unbeaten record.

The British light-welterweight controlled the contest, dropping Kazakh Lipinets with a terrific counter left in the third round.

Azim, 22, landed a number of uppercuts before the referee saved a bruised and battered Lipinets from any more damage.

The Slough fighter won his 13th pro fight with a ninth stoppage, although his good work was somewhat tarnished by several illegal - albeit unintentional - punches below the belt.

"He was really small and he was so hard from me to place the shot," Azim said.

"I was so patient. At the start he was really dangerous. He's a big puncher. I've got so much respect for him."

'The Assassin' victory meant Azim claimed the vacant IBO belt. Although not universally recognised as a world title, the strap does signal his potential on the global stage. Former holders of the IBO light-welterweight title include Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao.

Azim welcomed a fight with fellow undefeated Briton Dalton Smith later this year.

Although past his best, 35-year-old Lipinets posed a credible measure of Azim's progression. He held the IBF world title in 2017, before losing it in his following bout, and beat Briton Robbie Davies Jr last year.

Azim worked smartly behind the snappy jab to find his rhythm early on. "Keep it nice and long," former world champion Amir Khan instructed from ringside.

He began to outwork and outmanoeuvre his opponent, targeting Lipinets' body with left and right hooks.

An uppercut staggered Lipinets in the third. Moments later, he was sent crashing to the canvas after lunging in and being caught superbly by Azim.

"It's not fair, ref," Lipinets' deflated trainer shouted from the corner after Azim was deducted a point in the fourth.

Other borderline punches below the midriff were not picked up by the official.

Lipinets, to his credit, kept the complaining to a minimum, even when clearly hurt by an illegal punch in the seventh.

This time, it was much sterner word from the referee, with Azim dangerously and unnecessarily flirting with the possibility of disqualification.

But Azim wisely adhered to trainer Shane McGuigan's instructions to move away from body shots.

The stylish boxer landed a number of uppercuts with ease in the eighth and ninth in what soon became target practice, before the fight was halted.

Azim turns 23 in July and promoters Boxxer have been keen not to rush his boxing education.

But given he is headlining arenas and being pushed as the promotional outfit's marquee fighter, the paying public expect him to be in competitive contests against tough opposition.

Boxxer pulled Azim out of purse bids for a European title fight with Smith last year, prompting a public war of words between the respective teams.

Sheffield's Matchroom-promoted Smith, unbeaten in 17 pro bouts, destroyed Walid Ouizza in one round a week ago.

"You better be watching, mate, because you ain't even that good, my friend," was Azim's message to Smith to keep the rivalry bubbling away.

For now, though, Azim will take some time out to observe the Islamic month of Ramadan, which begins at the end of February.