Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Adam and Hassan Azim plan to emulate idol Amir Khan on Kell Brook undercard

Adam and Hassan Azim are boxing's next emerging brothers and will be looking to make their biggest statement yet on the undercard of Amir Khan's clash with Kell Brook.

The pair will both face separate challenges on the pay-per-view card in Manchester and will be backed by another huge following from Slough.

Trained by Shane McGuigan, the pair are considered two of the brightest rising stars within a stable which includes the likes of Lawrence Okolie and Daniel Dubois.

Azim and his brother Hassan continue to push each other after discovering their love from boxing on separate paths, but are both united by their mutual respect for Khan.

And the elder of the siblings, Adam, remembers sitting on his father's lap watching Khan and being told he would fight one day.

"It is funny enough because fourteen years ago I was sat on my dad's lap watching Amir Khan fight from ringside," Azim told Mirror Fighting . "This was at the same arena that I am fighting at on the weekend.

"My dad said to me 'you will be fighting here one day' and fourteen years later luckily enough I am fighting on Amir Khan's undercard at the same arena and it shows for anyone that anything can come true.

"I used to watch Floyd Mayweather also he was one of my favourite fighters of all time and I also watched a lot of Canelo Alvarez while I was growing up too."

Azim's brother Hassan shares a similar story having looked up to Khan for inspiration, revealing that watching him to take to the ring was his first boxing experience.

"There are other fighters like Muhammad Ali and Thomas Hearns that inspired me growing up and they were role models for me," Azim said. "What actually got me into boxing was the first fight I ever watched which was Amir Khan.

"So for me to be on the undercard as Amir Khan alongside my brother is massive for my career and is an absolute privilege."

Adam is four fights into his professional career and campaigns at lightweight, a star-studded division featuring the likes of Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis.

He recorded an impressive victory in his maiden appearance under the BOXXER banner and is widely regarded as one of the best talents to step into McGuigan's gym.

With his sights fully focused on a world title, Azim plans to conquer the traditional domestic level and wants to fight Haney first when he approaches world level.

"I just want to take the right fights at the right time," Azim said. First of all I want to conquer domestic level while working my way up before making my move at world level.

"My aim is to become world champion, if I had a choice to face a lightweight first it would be Devin Haney. Whoever has the belt to be honest is who I want first as I plan to move up and take it off of them."

Meanwhile, his brother Hassan entered the boxing scene at a slightly later date and impressed in his professional debut, scoring an opening round stoppage at Wembley Arena.

He similarly has earned plaudits for his rise and will compete at welterweight in a crowded domestic scene which includes Conor Benn and David Avanesyan.

Azim believes taking his time will suit his road to the top best as he plans to capitalise on his advantages gained from winning national accolades at amateur level.

"I am going to just take my time and enjoy the experience as much as possible," Azim continued. "In the amateur days I won nearly everything, the Europeans, youth Olympic games and ABA's I have done it all.

"That is because I have been taking my time and not looked too far ahead. I will take it up the ladder step-by-step and I would like to try and get my first title probably around 14-15 fights ahead into my career.

"I am not going to look ahead but I would love to fight all of these guys and I will definitely win the title."

Do you think the Azim brothers will both win on Saturday night? Let us know in the comments section below

The brothers were always close growing up but have always remained competitive as they pushed each other on the amateur boxing circuit.

Having now both signed to compete on the same promotion, competition remains high between the pair as they look to try and help each other reach the pinnacle of boxing.

With arguably the biggest night of their career fast approaching, Azim revealed how the sibling pair plan to reach the legacy levels of the Klitschko brothers.

"It's both of us in it together and we always train together," he concluded. "He is like my second partner with me and he is always next to me and we always push each other.

"We want to get to the top together like the Klitschko brothers and the Charlo Brothers, we ant to do a similar thing to them and become world champions together."

Hassan agreed and pointed out the competitions and sibling rivalry that arises from preparing together in the gym.

"I mean me and Adam do have competitions like running and stuff on the treadmill," he added. "Like if I put the settings on 12 he will add to his on like 12.5.

"It will just keep going up and having Adam there is the best thing for me, as for me by myself training would be so boring so having Adam there has helped me a lot."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.