By Elliot Worsell
THERE were countless punches thrown and landed by the 14 boxers involved in Frank Warrenโs latest โMagnificent Sevenโ show in Birmingham on Saturday (March 14), yet none were better than the right uppercut produced by Liam Davies in round two of a super-bantamweight fight between the hours of 11 and 12 oโclock.
The punch, thrown effortlessly and with total ease, cracked the jaw of Daviesโ opponent Erik Robles and changed their fight in an instant. It did not finish the fight โ there would, for Robles, be more pain to come โ but it altered its course, it sent Robles to the floor, and it stole from the Mexican every ounce of resolve and ambition he had taken with him to England earlier that week.
He felt it, in other words. He felt the quality of the shot and the power of the shot. He felt, without knowing it, the history of the shot; this shot Davies had practiced as a child with his grandad, his father, and Andy McFarland at Donnington Boxing Club, then, as a pro, perfected with the help of Errol Johnson at Black Country Boxing (BCB).
โThat was my toughest fight on paper and the way I did it โ the finish and stuff โ was the best possible way,โ Davies said to Boxing News. โHeโs a great fighter, Robles, and had eight knockouts in the first round. Heโs a strong Mexican and they come to win. To do it like that is not the way it normally goes, so I was very happy with it. Iโll give myself a pat on the back for it. But I was still on the phone this morning to my great manager Errol Johnson, saying, โWhat are we doing next, man?โ Because I want to know.โ
Increasingly, too, there is interest in Davies and his progress beyond the walls of the BCB gym. Indeed, the more he finishes fights the way he did on Saturday, the more he adds clips to his highlight reel and the more he in turn generates attention. This is important, Davies knows, for it is not easy being a super-bantamweight and expecting the rest of the world to care.
โIโve proven Iโm strong enough to take these guys out and that just adds to the excitement,โ he said. โWinning is all that matters but the excitement is what brings more eyes to the show.
โIโm a big, strong super-bantamweight, Iโm sparring bigger guys, and I seem to do damage with the bigger gloves and headguard,โ he added. โI believe in my power. I didnโt even go looking for it (the stoppage) on Saturday really. It just came naturally. That shows you itโs there without me having to force anything. You need that ability at this level.โ
As for how Davies manages to generate such power, the recipe is clear. โOne, I train very hard,โ he said. โI lift very heavy. Itโs also a lot to do with precision and timing. Iโm very accurate. Youโve got to do it at the right time.โ
Timing, of course, is everything, both in terms the throwing of a punch and the selecting of an opponent and Davies, with the help of his manager, Errol Johnson, appears to have got his spot on so far. In addition to winning British, Commonwealth and European titles, Davies, on Saturday night, secured an IBO super-bantamweight belt, one of the lesser regarded โworldโ titles but a decent stepping stone nonetheless. More than anything, to win that belt means a bit of history for both Daviesโ amateur gym and his current pro gym.
โItโs a blessing for myself but also itโs nice to bring good things to good people,โ said Davies, now 16-0 (8). โIโm the first world champion from BCB and the first world champion from Donnington Boxing Club, which my grandad started 30 years ago now. Iโm buzzing to be able to bring that to the people who have helped me so much.โ
Daviesโ grandad, someone he mentioned in his post-fight interview, was a massive source of both motivation and inspiration for Davies growing up and, although having passed, remains so to this day. The start of it all, in so many ways, because of his grandad Davies now looks a natural fighter benefitting from the drip down effect of being born into a fighting family; a family content to live, breathe, and bleed boxing. In short: he makes it seem easy.
โMy grandad was a big influence,โ he said. โI spent a lot of time with him travelling up and down the country as a young kid. Even before boxing, I used to spend most weekends with my nan and grandad. He was a judge as well as a coach. If he had any fights on, Iโd go along for the journey and come back listening to Abba. He loved a bit of Abba. He always used to say, โYou can do this!โ Youโre never sure whether theyโre just saying it because theyโre your grandfather and he loves you, but he wasnโt lying, of course. To be able to do it has honestly been amazing.โ
As amazing as it has been to fulfil his grandadโs prophecy, Davies isnโt done yet. Rather, he is only just getting started on this ride. He accepts that the IBO belt he currently owns is neither the world title he ultimately wants nor the limit of his potential, and he also realises the importance of capitalising on momentum and making hay while he can.
โThis is just the start for me,โ said the 27-year-old. โIโm going to carry on and there is plenty more to come. I want to carry this one (belt) and see what I can take next. I think weโre probably talking June or July for my next fight.โ
His next fight, rest assured, wonโt be against Naoya Inoue, the worldโs best super-bantamweight and arguably the scariest fighter in the sport today. However, that is not to say Liam Davies wonโt one day find himself looking across the ring at the Japanese star and figuring out ways to beat him and shock the world.
โI think it will happen, definitely,โ Davies said. โItโs just a question of when. Iโm going to continue cracking on until it happens. Iโm not focused on just one person. Iโm going to focus on myself.
โI think I have definitely shown that if he (Inoue) wants to come to these shores, or if heโs looking for someone to go in there and have a good blast with him, itโs me. Iโm there with nothing to lose and everything to gain. It would be a great fight.
โHeโs the best. For me to be able to say Iโm the best itโs Inoue that I would have to beat. I understand that itโs a big ask, but Iโve got this mindset that has me believing Iโll go in there and give it my best against anyone. I donโt mind taking a challenge, as Iโve shown, and Iโve got a puncherโs chance against anyone, as well as the skills to go with it. My grandad, who was a big part of me, always said, โTo be the best, youโve got to beat the best,โ and thatโs what I need to do: I need to beat the best. Fights with Inoue are at the top of the tree.
โMany people will say Iโm stupid, but they donโt understand boxing. I understand that Inoue has looked like a beast โ he has โ but Iโve never been knocked out and I believe in myself. Why not go in fucking two feet first? Iโve got myself in the position, so why not have a crack at it? If you donโt, youโre going to say, โCould I have done it?โ I donโt want that. I want to say I fought everyone and fought the best. However it works out, I can be proud of that.โ
In the end, what drives Liam Davies is both a fearlessness and an unwavering belief in his own ability; to do damage with his punches and to beat the best in the world. Itโs this very fearlessness, in fact, that allows him to get creative in fights and throw punches from angles his opponents have often never imagined, much less encountered. Itโs also this fearlessness that has you straight-faced when hearing him discuss Naoya Inoue as not just a future opponent but a future victim.
โI donโt fear any of them,โ he reiterated. โWe all bleed the same and I give myself a chance against anyone. Inoue is a great champion and I would never disrespect him. Iโm not even going to call him out or waste my time. But what Iโm saying is Iโd love an opportunity to fight the best in the division. Itโs a two-horse race, man. Anything can happen.โ