As the boxing world enters its award season, the spotlight shines on various achievements and standout moments of 2023. Amidst the fanfare, one name consistently surfaces as a contender for Britain’s most underappreciated fighter: Liam Davies. With just 15 fights under his belt, Davies has already captured the English, British, and European super bantamweight titles, along with a collection of international belts. Despite these impressive feats, the 27-year-old from Donnington has remained somewhat in the shadows, especially compared to other fighters with lesser accolades.
Davies’s journey has been marked by steadfast ambition and a clear vision for his future. In an interview, he expressed confidence in his trajectory, aiming to be one of Britain’s best. “It was another good year in the bank. As I expected really. I see myself becoming one of the best in Britain to do it,” Davies remarked. His outlook for 2024 is one of growth and progress, a sentiment captured in his words, “Tick tock.”
2023 saw Davies end his rivalry with Jason Cunningham decisively, defeating the former British and European champion in under three minutes. He continued his winning streak in November, defending his European title against the previously unbeaten Vincenzo La Femina. This victory, achieved on Queensberry’s multi-title ‘Magnificent Seven’ card, was not just a win but a statement. Davies entered the ring in an aggressive “seek and destroy” mode, giving La Femina several chances but ultimately triumphing with a dynamic and powerful performance.
Reflecting on his fight with La Femina, Davies acknowledged his own recklessness. “It was ok. Everyone was really happy with it bar me and my team,” he admitted. Despite the excitement of the bout, Davies recognized the need for a more strategic approach at higher levels. This experience, including a knockdown which he quickly recovered from, was a learning curve for the young fighter.
Looking ahead, Davies has set his sights on the ultimate prize in boxing – a world title belt. With Naoya Inoue recently becoming the undisputed champion at 122lbs, Davies is eager for the challenge, even if it means traveling to Japan to face Inoue. However, he also speculated on Inoue's potential move to featherweight, an opportunity for Inoue to make history as a three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era. “If there was a favorite out of anyone in boxing who could do it three times, you’d have to say it was Inoue, wouldn’t you? I just don’t see why not,” Davies mused.
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