BUZZ Azim vs. Gollaz Valenzuela IBF eliminator official for Dec. 4 at Copper Box

Adam Azim has his biggest booking yet, and it still does not include the fight fans have wanted for years. Boxxer made the IBF eliminator against Mexico's Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela official for Dec. 4 at the Copper Box Arena, after The Ring first reported it on Oct. 27.

Azim, a 24-year-old from Slough, is 15-0 with 12 knockouts and has stopped his last six opponents, including Ohara Davies and Sergey Lipinets. He has boxed only once this year, a third-round stoppage of Steve Claggett at Wembley Arena in May. He knocked out Davies at the Copper Box in October 2024 and has held the European and IBO super lightweight titles. Bad Left Hook noted that the breakthrough win over a top opponent has yet to arrive.

Gollaz Valenzuela, from Guadalajara, is 32-5 with 18 knockouts and has won two of his last four. He lost to former IBF champion Subriel Matias, stopped in round eight, and to Lindolfo Delgado last year, though Bad Left Hook argued he arguably deserved that win. His 2023 split-decision win over Steve Spark took the WBA inter-continental title. Both fighters promised a fight: Azim called it the final test between him and a world title, while Gollaz Valenzuela said Azim had never faced anyone like him.

The IBF belt is vacant, and the eliminator format suggests the sanctioning body may reschedule Delgado vs. Arthur Biyarslanov for it or find Biyarslanov a new opponent, according to Bad Left Hook. There is no official word on either.

The Azim-Smith fight is the subplot. Smith, the WBC super lightweight champion, told The Ring that Azim's claim to be the bigger name is "delusion" and that the delay was never on his side. He called the fight "brewing" but said his number one goal is Hillsborough, which would need a unification. Nothing between them is booked.

Watch for the IBF's next move on the vacant belt and for whether the winner gets the early-2027 shot.