Report: Adam Azim vs. Gabriel Valenzuela Set for Dec. 4 IBF Eliminator in London

Adam Azim has his next assignment, and it comes with a clear path to a world title. The unbeaten Londoner is set to face Mexico's Gabriel "Gollaz" Valenzuela on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Copper Box Arena in London, The Ring reported Tuesday.

According to The Ring's Declan Taylor, the junior welterweight bout is scheduled for 12 rounds as an IBF title eliminator and will headline a Boxxer-promoted card. Azim (15-0, 12 KOs) is ranked No. 4 by the IBF, and Valenzuela (32-5-1, 18 KOs) is No. 6.

The timing matters. The vacant IBF title was supposed to be settled this Saturday in Riyadh, but No. 1 contender Lindolfo Delgado did not travel to Saudi Arabia, and his fight with No. 3 Arthur Biyarslanov is off the Canelo-Mbilli card. The Ring reports that the Azim-Valenzuela winner is expected to push for a shot at the vacant belt in the first half of 2027.

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Azim, a former European champion, has won his last six fights by knockout, most recently a third-round stoppage of former world title challenger Steve Claggett at Wembley Arena on May 30. Before that he stopped Kurt Scoby, Sergey Lipinets, Ohara Davies, Enock Poulsen and Franck Petitjean.

Valenzuela, 32, has been in this spot before. He lost world title eliminators to Subriel Matias and Delgado in 2025, then got back in the win column by stopping Rogelio Laguna in May.

There's also a domestic subplot. Azim has long been linked with WBC champion Dalton Smith, who kept his title with a split decision over Alberto Puello in Sheffield on Saturday. A win on Dec. 4 keeps a future all-British unification with Smith on the table.

The date, venue and eliminator status come from The Ring's sources. As of Tuesday morning Pacific time, Boxbid had not seen a formal announcement from Boxxer, and broadcast and ticket details have not been released. Boxbid will update this story when the official release lands.

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