BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND -- It won't be long before Adam Azim is gearing up to headline another BOXXER show on Sky Sports this summer, though the junior-welterweight remained coy over his next opponent.

Two-and-a-half months removed from a career-best stoppage win over Sergey Lipinets, the 22-year-old knows there's a natural clamour to see him stepped up through the gears. While the IBO world champion tag before his name has a nice ring to it, Azim accepts it won't feel the same until he captures one of the titles held by the four major sanctioning bodies. He, much like divisional rival Dalton Smith, could be waiting a while.

The Ring's Declan Taylor mentioned Canada's one-time title challenger Steve Claggett (39-8-2, 27 KOs) as a potential opponent last week and Azim here named two-time former titleholder Regis Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs) as another possible target.

Prograis was set to box Oscar Duarte in mid-February, before withdrawing less than two weeks out with a shoulder injury. Four months prior, the 36-year-old hinted at retirement from boxing and a foray into bare-knuckle in Manchester after a UD12 defeat by Jack Catterall.

"July time, I want to keep rising up the rankings and capture the other belts... WBA, maybe WBC. I don't know if I'll have the opportunity to fight for the WBC - there's loads of mandatories - the WBA is interesting," Azim told The Ring.

In his voluntary first defence as champion, WBC titleholder Alberto Puello (24-0, 10 KOs) will box former IBF titlist Subriel Matias (22-2, 22 KOs) as part of a stacked July 12 card in New York. No. 1-ranked contender Smith is slated to face the winner by year's end, though reports suggest the Teofimo Lopez-Arnold Barboza Jr winner will be 'positioned' to face the Puello-Matias victor.

After cruising beyond Jose Valenzuela last month, newly-minted WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) has been mandated to make his first title defence against No. 1-contender Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs). Meanwhile, the WBC remains the only sanctioning body from the major quartet who rank Azim in their top-15 -- currently sitting at No. 12.

Smith (18-0, 13 KOs), who scored three knockdowns but laboured to a 12-round decision win over Mathieu Germain last weekend, flattered to deceive at times and grew frustrated by the 35-year-old's defensive approach.

"I'm not going to criticise or doubt him, he was solid but could've been better. If you've got a guy running like that, you should be taking them out, not holding back," Azim said when asked about Dalton's display.

As for an early Puello-Matias prediction? "They're both very good, Puello is maybe the better boxer but I think Matias has enough to beat him."

In the midst of a busy time for the McGuigan gym, Azim was naturally engrossed in stablemate and sparring partner Lee Cutler's scheduled 10-round tussle with Sam Eggington - Eggington's worsening right eye injury cut that contest short two rounds early.

Azim wants to see a rematch - though the finances have to make sense - as they certainly did for unified super-bantamweight titleholder Ellie Scotney (12-0) after inking a multi-year agreement to join MVP, co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian.

IBF, IBO, WBO and RING champion Scotney looks to add WBC honours to her ever-growing collection when boxing agemate Yamileth Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) on an all women's card headlined by Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 come July 11, in what will be a busy sporting weekend.

"She's done amazing to get that deal, a lovely person and deserves the opportunity to fight on Netflix, getting signed by Jake Paul is good to get her name out there... she really deserves everything."