Adam Azim crowned IBO World super-lightweight champion

Adam Azim claims vacant IBO World super-lightweight title

'The Assassin' Adam Azim (13-0, 10KO) claimed the vacant IBO World super-lightweight title on February 1 with a ninth round stoppage of former world champion Sergey Lipinets (18-4-1, 13KO).

The 35-year-old Kazakh was down in the third round, then Azim was deducted points for low blows in both the fourth and seventh.

Lipinets chased Azim around the ring, leaping into a left hook that the Brit skipped away from and landed a left hook counter of his own that instantly floored the unbalanced 'Samurai'.

In the seventh, Azim landed yet another low blow, an uppercut that hit below the belt when they were standing head to head.

Azim kept landing uppercuts in the eighth round that persistently snapped Sergey's head back. It was a torrid round for the Kazakh, with referee Steve Gray having a very close look.

Azim kept landing big hooks and uppercuts in the ninth. When Azim landed a big right uppercut that caused Lipinets to pause for a moment, staggered by the big blow, referee Steve Gray rightly stepped in to stop the onslaught.

It was 33 seconds into the ninth round, but Lipinets was bloodied and bruised and had had enough.

22-year-old Azim is now the IBO World super-lightweight champion in just his 13th fight.

In other action, Callum Simpson stopped the tough Ghanaian Elvis Ahorgah in round five to register his second knockout win within a month.

Michael Webster was forced to retire in the penultimate ninth round against Jeamie TKV, who collected the IBO International heavyweight title with the win.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Scott Forrest was upset by Aurel Ignat, an unbeaten Londoner from Moldova. Ignat stopped the Scot in the first round of their scheduled eight-round contest.

There were also wins for Joe Kodua, Alfie Clegg, Lucas Roehrig, Emmany Kalombo, and Hassan Azim.