This Kid Wants Haney's Head (And He's Got One Week to Prove It)

By Lewis Barnett 6 June, 2025 4 mins read 56 Views

Look, I've seen some ballsy moves in boxing, but Adam Azim just did something that made me spit out my coffee.

The 22-year-old British fighter took a bout against Mexico's Eliot Chavez with literally seven days' notice. Seven! Most fighters need a month just to cut their toenails properly, but this kid said "sure, why not?" like someone asked him to grab milk from the store.

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When Confidence Meets Stupidity (Or Genius?)

Here's where it gets interesting though. Azim isn't just taking this Saturday fight in Barnsley as a tune-up. Nope. He's using it as his audition tape for Devin Haney. And he's not being subtle about it either.

"I would fight Haney next week," Azim told Sky Sports, and honestly? The way he said it made me believe him. "I just feel he's more moving around and doesn't want to initiate attacks."

Ouch. That's not trash talk - that's a surgical strike on Haney's entire fighting philosophy.

The Garcia Situation (Yeah, We're Still Talking About It)

Remember when Ryan Garcia dropped Haney three times back in April? Course you do - we all watched it thinking Haney's unbeaten record was toast. Then Garcia tested positive for ostarine (muscle-building stuff), the result got flipped, and suddenly Haney was undefeated again.

But here's the thing nobody wants to say out loud: even with the result overturned, we all saw what happened in that ring. Garcia made Haney look... human. Vulnerable, even.

Poor Garcia though - he came back the same night Haney fought Jose Ramirez in New York, and Rolly Romero absolutely demolished him. One year ban, tears, the whole mess. Boxing's a cruel sport sometimes.

Speed Kills (According to Azim)

What caught my attention wasn't Azim's confidence - every young fighter thinks they can beat the world. It was his breakdown of how he'd actually do it.

"Haney, I think he's got enough power just to keep someone off, but I don't think he has that one-punch power," Azim explained. "But I think if I was going to fight him I think I'd beat him with speed."

Smart kid. He's not talking about overwhelming Haney with power (which would be stupid). He's talking about outworking him, out-moving him, making him uncomfortable.

The Real Test Starts Saturday

Here's my take: taking fights on a week's notice is either the mark of someone who stays in incredible shape year-round, or someone who doesn't understand what they're getting into.

With Azim, I'm betting on the former. The super-lightweight division at 140lbs is wide open right now, and this kid seems to understand that opportunity doesn't always knock twice.

Will he actually get Haney? That's a different conversation entirely. But watching someone this young call out a former world champion with this much conviction? That's the kind of thing that makes boxing interesting again.

Saturday in Barnsley might just be the beginning of something bigger.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance breathing in boxing?

Boxing requires proper breathing to maintain energy and stamina. You will also remain relaxed throughout a training session or match. To effectively manage your oxygen input and output, exhale strongly with each punch.

What is the proper stance in boxing?

Standing shoulder width apart with the front foot forward and the back foot at a 90-degree angle is the classic boxing position. You should have your knees slightly bent and your weight evenly distributed on your balls of feet. Hands up for protection of your face. Elbows tucked under to protect the torso.

What is professional and amateur boxing?

Amateur boxing tends to be more focused on the sport side, with an emphasis placed on skills, techniques, and the number of points rather than on knockouts. It is usually shorter and requires headgear. Professional boxing is a full time career that involves longer rounds and no headgear. It also places a higher emphasis on power, knockouts, and more powerful punches.

Statistics

Women are joining boxing in increasing numbers, rising by about 15% in the past decade, indicating growing gender diversity in the sport.
Roughly 75% of beginners do not employ adequate defensive tactics in their first sparring sessions.
On average, beginners who undergo proper boxing training can expect to burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories per hour.
Cardiovascular fitness improvements can be seen after just 12 weeks of consistent boxing training.
It is estimated that 60% of beginner boxers do not use the correct size gloves, which can increase the risk of injury.
Nearly 80% of boxing training injuries are related to incorrect technique, especially within the first three months of taking up the sport.
Studies show that proper hand wrapping can reduce the chance of hand and wrist injuries by as much as 40%.
Boxing has one of the lowest rates of injury compared to other contact sports, with approximately 1.1 injuries per 1,000 minutes of athletics.
On average, beginner boxers improve their punching power by 10%-20% after six months of consistent training.
Beginner boxers tend to make the mistake of holding their breath in 70% of cases during their initial training sessions.

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How To

How to spar safely for a beginner boxer

Use protective equipment such as gloves and mouthguard. Start with sparring that is light to learn technique, not just power. Use this time to practice what you have learned from bag work and drills. Always have an experienced coach supervising sparring sessions to provide immediate feedback and ensure both partners' safety.