Azim signals world-title intent with stoppage win

British light-welterweight Adam Azim reinforced his status as a rising star with a third-round stoppage victory over Canadian veteran Steve Claggett at the OVO Arena in Wembley, London. The unbeaten 24-year-old dominated the fight with powerful uppercuts, dropping Claggett late in the second round before forcing the referee to halt the contest in the third. Azim improved his professional record to 15-0, with 12 wins by knockout, edging closer to a potential shot at the IBF light-welterweight world title later this year. Azim’s relentless pressure and precision punches overwhelmed Claggett, who brought significant experience to the ring, including a recent world-title challenge against Teofimo Lopez. Despite Claggett’s resilience, he was unable to withstand Azim’s power and was visibly beaten by the time the referee stopped the fight. Azim credited his 12 weeks of intense training for the victory and acknowledged the support from both British and Pakistani fans. The win strengthens Azim’s position in the light-welterweight division, where the IBF has mandated a title fight between Lindolfo Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov for the vacant belt, potentially setting up Azim as a future contender. On the undercard, British bantamweight Francesca Hennessy also advanced her world-title ambitions with a sixth-round stoppage of Italy’s Aurora de Persio. Despite noticeable gaps in the crowd early in the event, the atmosphere intensified as Azim made his ring entrance to Michael Jackson’s "Beat It," receiving strong support from the audience. Trainer Shane McGuigan expressed high confidence in Azim’s future, predicting he will not only win a world title but become a unified and multi-weight world champion. Azim is also being positioned for a domestic showdown with fellow British prospect Dalton Smith, further highlighting his trajectory toward global prominence in the sport.