By Paul Webb
THE last couple of years have shown that even a sport as old as boxing can continue to surprise with its unpredictability. But one thing that has never changed is that, barring a few notable exceptions, Floyd Mayweather, Rocky Marciano, and perhaps not-so-notable Sven Ottke, every fighter loses.
The now-former IBO super-bantamweight world champion Liam Davies experienced his first loss in the paid ranks on November 2nd against Shabaz Masoud.
Never one to shy away, Davies has been back in the gym and working with more determination than ever as he enters the next phase of his career while taking time to reflect on what he has already achieved.
“I think first of all you have to take it on the chin,” said Davies. “It’s life; it isn’t always going to go your way. I have to be a man and accept and move on. Boxing is all I know and all I have ever done, so what can I do but fight through it?
“It’s gutting, as I had such big plans, but those plans haven’t changed; just my progress towards those targets is going to take a different path. It’s part of the game, and I learnt a lot from it. I’ve come to peace with it, and I do that by being back in the gym.”
From the outside, the result came as a surprise, with the Donnington man’s trajectory seemingly headed for the top of the division after devastating knockout displays against Jason Cunningham, Vincenzo La Femina, and Erik Robles Ayala.
An all-British clash with Dennis McCann looked likely as the constant social media buzz of a possible shot at pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue also gathered pace. However, after 10 years at 122 lbs, that night in Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live Arena against an impressive Masoud proved to be one too many.
“It’s a blessing in disguise, really. I had been talking about moving up in weight long before the IBO world title fight against Robles, but my dad and team said it was a good fight to take, and they were right; it was.
“I won, so you think you have mastered it and got making the weight down to a tee, so you do the same again, but this time it didn’t work out. I won’t blame the weight for why I lost; everyone struggles to make weight, but I have boxed at super-bantamweight for over 10 years now, and in between fights, my natural weight is a lot heavier.”
Being bold and taking chances in the ring, like the short-notice English title shot against Sean Cairns back in 2020, which was the start of his rise to arena headliner, has been born from a goal to change the lives of not just himself but those closest to him. It’s a motivating factor that has always kept the 28-year-old ambitious and wanting more for his family.
“Everything else in my life is good; I lost, you get a bit of stick, and humbled a little bit, but I have to look at what I have already been able to do for my family. I got to take my sister, my niece, my mum, my auntie, my brother, his partner, my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, and my wife on holiday to an unreal villa, and I was able to do that from my hard work and my dedication.
“Taking a loss in a boxing ring hurts, but I’ve been able to do things for my family, who have been there for me in the bad times. I have to look back at my life and smile because I have come a long, long way. I’m not rich by any means, but I am blessed.
The financial might of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has got many fighters desperate to get a Saudi Arabian stamp on their passport. Davies is happy to let his manager, Errol Johnson, and promoter, Frank Warren, make the calls, and backs himself for whatever challenge is put his way, wherever the location.
“I still think I can beat anybody on my day. That’s the confidence I have always had in myself. I want to be a world champion again this year. It doesn’t matter where it is; you make good times wherever you are, and it’s not something I think about.
“All I want is the WBC featherweight world title; that’s my focus, and I truly believe the best of Liam Davies is yet to come.”
