Harlem Eubank believes a contest with Adam Azim, which stalled last year, could still be made.
The fight fell through after looking set for 2024, and Eubank told Sky Sports: “There are a lot of ifs and that is what kept us out of the ring for 12 months. I’ll just be focused on what I have in front of me.
“But I’m always interested in big fights, and further down the line, if that’s Adam Azim, it’s Adam Azim. But for now, I am fully locked in on [Tyrone] McKenna.”
Azim also has a fight of his own first. On Saturday he boxes Sergey Lipinets, a former IBF super-lightweight world titlist, live on Sky Sports.
Azim faces off with opponent Lipinets for the final time
Promoter Ben Shalom told Sky Sports: “Harlem Eubank’s obviously calling Adam out and he likes the fight. That would be a great fight and it’s a fight we should have had.
“By the time it came around after Adam’s injury, in fairness to Harlem he wanted one or two back to prepare for such a big fight. There’s no reason why that can’t happen.
“We want the big-profile fights and we know what the name Eubank does in British boxing.”
Matthew Macklin questions whether Azim will fight domestic rival Dalton Smith next should he come through victorious against Lipinets
But he added: “I don’t want to put more pressure on the fact that he’s fighting a former world champion on Saturday night and it really could go either way. Let’s see how he performs. If he performs well I’d love to make that fight.”
Coming up next, in his Brighton hometown in March, Eubank will box Tyrone McKenna.
McKenna was certainly the aggressor in the verbal exchanges at their press conference, questioning Eubank’s level of opposition.
Azim insists he’s fully focused on his fight with Lipinets and isn’t thinking about potential future bouts with Gervonta Davis or Ryan Garcia
McKenna told Sky Sports: “He is going to feel a lot of pressure going into this fight. I’m the best opponent that he has had. It’s in his hometown, in front of his own fans, on his Wasserman show.
“I’m coming in as the away fighter. I’ve been beaten a few times, I’m the bookies’ underdog, and I love that. In my last fight, I walked out to boos, and it spurred me on.”
Eubank, 30, clearly feels differently, looking to deliver another emphatic performance in Brighton following his career-best victory over Timo Schwarzkopf in November 2023.
Azim speaks ahead of his bout with Lipinets and how reading Harry Potter books has helped him step outside his comfort zone
“When I’m here at home, I always feel like I rise to the occasion, especially with a step up in opponent,” he said.
“It always motivates me to go in there and prove a point. I’m motivated to do that on March 7 against Tyrone McKenna.”
Watch Adam Azim vs Sergey Lipinets on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 7pm. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
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