SportsOrbit

Adam Azim’s blossoming career experienced a minor setback last weekend when his fight, which was really a tune-up, ended abruptly. On the undercard of Callum Simpson vs. Ivan Zucco, the 23-year-old was scheduled to clash with Elliot Chavez, a much more restricted operator, after receiving a last-minute call-up. Despite the fact that both fighters weighed in at 143 pounds last Friday, Chavez was eventually pulled from their co-main event spot the following day. After learning that the Mexican, who has fought at lighter weights in the past, had shaved off his final few pounds in a sauna, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) made its decision. Azim, a rising super-lightweight sensation with a record of 13-0 (10 KOs), consequently had no opponent and no chance to hone his skills. His trainer, Shane McGuigan, told Boxing News, “It was really frustrating.” “But there are still bigger battles and bigger opportunities ahead.” Adam’s career will have many highs and lows, and it was only one of them. While losing a battle is never pleasant, it would have been much more disgusting if there had been a chance to win the world title or anything like. Chris Eubank Jr., who openly mentioned using a sauna, was allowed to spar with Conor Benn in April despite the fact that the BBBoC forbids the practice, at least when it comes to weight-making. McGuigan, of course, is even more irritated by the Board’s earlier decision-making and maintains that Azim will soon secure a far more significant showdown. McGuigan added, “[Chavez] has boxed as low as 130lbs.” Therefore, it’s not like Eubank, where he has been fuming for a long time. This child literally lost a few pounds by jumping in the sauna, but it backfired on both him and us. “We discussed having [Chavez] undergo a rehydration test, but [the Board] simply stated, ‘Look, what position would that put us in if Adam hurts this kid?’” We have to come to terms with that. “At the end of the day, the managers and promoters are thinking about money; they’re not thinking about [Eubank’s] health and safety,” McGuigan continued, in reference to Eubank’s highly visible weight-cut. The opposing viewpoint is that we should endeavor to limit and impede his performance, keep him at a specific weight, and get him as low as possible. Therefore, it was a major problem and a collective f*** up. As a trainer, I doubt I would have tolerated that. “With Mr. Eubank and Mr. Benn, we had to check their weights over a period of time, six weeks or so, knowing what their weights were – and we were satisfied with their weights,” BBBoC General Secretary Robert Smith added, providing more context for both circumstances. A medical officer from [the Mexican Boxing Commission] notified us about the boxing over the weekend, expressing worry that [Chavez] had shared a video of himself working out in a sauna to gain weight on social media. It was then determined that he should be pulled from the fight following talks with our own physicians. We must not disregard a commission. If a global commission disregarded our recommendations, I would be furious.