Liddard outsmarts Conway for British title

As is customary for British title fights at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, a venue situated in the heart of London’s East End and steeped in fight history, Kieron Conway and George Liddard offered a compelling fight for those who gathered, and the handful of customers DAZN hasn’t yet ostracised.

Champion Conway entered the ring as the tried and trusted, Liddard as the upstart in a rush. That was how the fight was characterised. Conway appeared the bigger man, at 29 and having matured in to the classic Middleweight division. His young challenger, still just 23 and reckoned to be the youngest ever champion was he to succeed, sported a D’Artagnan moustache and a Jack Nicholson grin.

His challenge, as a 12-0 (7ko) prospect, strongly suggested either impudence from the younger man or sage insight from the experienced boxing men, trainer Tony Sims chief among them, that guide him. Liddard’s self assurance in the face of the competent and in form champion he was looking to depose, having boxed just 52 rounds in a short career, would prove well founded.

Liddard was loose and relaxed in his work from the first bell, Conway rendered cautious and plodding by the Essex man’s sharp leads. The Northampton based champion could be forgiven for ‘taking a look’ at the challenger before him but it was an inertia he failed to shake.

As the second and third rounds passed, Liddard utilised feints with the expertise of a more seasoned fighter. Off setting Conway’s attacks before he could launch. Liddard was also more decisive, precise combinations were clever. Double jab, right to the body the pick of the second round.

Conway returned to his stool; blood smeared from his nose evidence of Liddard’s success.Already, the tone was set. The nagging doubt for Liddard supporters was whether the head movement could be sustained or whether over confidence would prove his undoing.

An attack at the end of third by Conway a warning of the potential for the fight to swing as the rounds unfolded. The fourth confirmed that potential as Conway got on to the front foot, more aggressive but still reluctant to let the jab go to dictate distance. Nevertheless, this observer gave the champion his first round of the fight.

The shift proved fleeting as Liddard returned in the fifth with a sharp jab on the counter and the hesitation engulfed Conway once more. Liddard forced his man back with snapping punches. All delivered with precision.

Notably, Liddard refused to be drawn into the greediness of chasing a knockout which could’ve been his undoing. Sticking to the game plan he kept most punches sharp and quick. Not worrying about power but the effects were still writ large on Conway’s broad face. A cut on the right cheekbone the newest addition in the sixth.

At the halfway stage, the challenger is 5-1 on the BoxingWriter card. The theme continues as Liddard grows more aggressive, matching Conway’s reluctant attacks. Always finishing the exchanges and leaving Conway reliant on solitary shots at a moving target.

Only naivety or a loss of stamina could surely interrupt the flow, Conway landed solid shots in the 8th to the body and head. It is in the more chaotic moments that Conway finds a degree of success; when both fighters threw at the same time, but Conway continued to be too cautious. Not leading off enough. He may have nicked the 8th.

As the ninth began it became evident that the champion had suffered the misfortune of a hand injury. Conway ducks to the canvas clearly in pain under some pressure from the challenger. Now one handed, the odds are mounting against him and only the ‘bingo’ right hand can preserve his title. The type of one punch power he doesn’t boast.

Liddard demonstrates poise in the pursuit, which bodes well for his future as he patiently sticks to his jab and combination work. It is tough to watch Conway so impeded. Once again he winces in pain from what appears a hand and a shoulder injury, a towel is thrown in, and the referee – who marshalled the boot well – accepts at 49 seconds of the 10th.

Liddard victorious and the injury only accelerating his ascent to the throne of both the British and Commonwealth titles at Middleweight. He had won 7 of the 9 completed rounds. He looked destined for a wide points win before the injuries intervened. He had dominated with precise and considered work. Never succumbing to recklessness despite his success and demonstrating a good repertoire in attack.

Conway disappoints after a solid run of form and now needs to accept this is his ‘ceiling’ as a fighter. Liddard will be matched to build fan base in 2026, and defences of these belts should offer good opportunity for growth and experience without the risk of what will come with any eagerness to visit the world stage.

Eddie Hearn, his promoter, appeared genuinely surprised at the progress the young man had made and expressed the need to recalibrate their plans to reflect the performance.

York Hall this week, but bigger stages for George Liddard are not too far ahead.