'Don't sleep on Queensberry's future stars – we've got plenty of power in our stable'

All this talk about Dalton Smith and Adam Azim being the next big name of the light-welterweight division but don’t sleep on our future stars. And if those two want to prove they’re ready to challenge at the top end of the 10st division then they should be picking up the phone to Queensberry. Brandun Lee is our classy Californian contender who is 29-0 as a professional and has been in with tougher foes than Smith and Azim.

Lee is a fighter we’re really excited about who will win world honours and would be up for a fight with either man. But if they want competition a little closer to home then Irishman Pierce O’Leary is just the right fight. O’Leary is a hard-hitting Dubliner who was busy in 2024 but will have a big 2025.



I know he would be good enough to beat Smith and Azim. Smith won the European title last weekend against Walid Ouizza but that was barely a fight. O’Leary would be a much better scrap for the Sheffield fighter.

Azim is taking on Sergey Lipinets tonight in London but the former IBF champion is a faded fighter in the division. They may think they’re past British title level but I’d also back our man Jack Rafferty in with either, too. Jack claimed the British and Commonwealth titles last time out when he upset Henry Turner in October.

He’s a great story and a boxer who never gave in as he waited for his big opportunity and then took it with both hands. Rafferty is in action again next weekend on our Derek Chisora against Otto Wallin undercard at Co-Op Live in Manchester when he defends those belts against Reece MacMillan. The unbeaten Manchester fighter has got potential and will give both Smith and Azim a lot of trouble if they ever fancy that clash.

While we have built a heavyweight stable that has made the world of boxing envious, we have talent throughout the divisions at Queensberry. And that light-welterweight trio just proves that..