A confident George Liddard told Dario Morello that he should enjoy the feeling of holding the European middleweight title whilst it last as the pair came face-to-face for the first time today at Matchroom Boxing HQ. Their clash will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN this Saturday but will now be staged at London’s Copper Box Arena. It is a stone’s throw from Liddard’s beloved West Ham United Football Club and the Billericay Bomber is ready to serve up success for his East End faihful this weekend. As the two rivals stood toe-to-toe this afternoon, both had a hand on the vacant belt – but undefeated Liddard told the experienced Italian to savour the moment, insisting it is the closest he come to getting near it come fight night.
British champion Liddard (14-0, 8 KOs) said: “For me, this challenge is the same as it has always been for me: it is another step towards greatness. I have stepped up every single fight throughout my career. I have never shied away from anything or anyone. As soon as the European title was on the line, I have been calling for a big fight – and after the belt was vacated, Dario Morello is the man who steps inside the ring with me. And he’ll be the man who will get battered on Saturday night.”
Morello, meanwhile, believes he will upset Liddard on his home turf. He said: “I dream about this day and this title and the chance to fight for it. It means everything to me. It is now or never for me. I have to win and leave everything in the ring. Every single sacrifice of my life was for this moment. Liddard is a solid man. Has good fundamentals and his physically strong. I understand him. On August 22nd, I will show you this.
Liddard has relinquished his Commonwealth strap, meaning stablemate Jimmy Sains (12-0, 4 KOs) will battle Newark’s Tom Cowling (15-1, 4 KOs) – who stunned Aaron Bowen in a thriller last November in Birmingham – for the honors this Saturday. Sains has sacrificed his English title in the process, meaning teenager – and East End native – Leli Buttigieg (12-0, 4 KOs) will square off against Harwich fighter PA Gordon (9-0, 1 KO) for the belt in a battle of undefeateds.
Tiah Mai Ayton (6-0, 5 KOs) bids for her first big championship when she collides with Ellie Hellewell (8-1-1, 1 KO) for the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title.
Plus, in more supporting action on August 22nd, Team GB Olympic silver medallist Pat McCormack (8-1, 6 KOs) returns to action against Argentina's Brian Maximiliano looking to resurrect his rise up the rankings following his defeat by Conah Walker in Monte-Carlo last December... Connor Mitchell, Ioan Croft, Harley Burrows and Louie Ward will also see action on the card.
