British light-welterweight Adam Azim will return to the ring on 4 December to face Mexico's Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela at London's Copper Box Arena. The bout has been designated as an IBF title eliminator, with the winner positioned to challenge for the vacant world championship early in 2027.
Azim, 24, remains undefeated in 15 professional contests, with 12 victories coming by stoppage. He last competed in May, stopping Steve Claggett in three rounds at Wembley Arena. The British Boxing Board of Control named him Young Boxer of the Year for 2024.
Valenzuela, 32, brings a record of 32 wins, five losses and one draw, with 18 knockouts. He has previously fallen short in two world title eliminators, losing to Subriel Matias and Lindolfo Delgado in 2025. The Mexican scored a knockout win in his most recent outing in May.
The IBF light-welterweight title became vacant after former champion Richardson Hitchins moved up to welterweight. A scheduled eliminator between Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov was cancelled when Delgado withdrew, citing safety concerns for the bout on the undercard of Christian Mbilli versus Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Saudi Arabia.
A victory for Azim would keep alive the prospect of an all-British showdown with WBC light-welterweight champion Dalton Smith, a matchup that has been widely anticipated for 2027.
