Conway vs Liddard – British and Commonwealth title clash at York Hall

In the unrehearsed punk opera of boxing, beguiling and bewildering such as it is, lurching from the sublimity of Terence Crawford’s victory over Saul Alvarez to the absurdity of Tank Davis versus Jake Paul, there is much to be said for listening to an old standard or two to nurture the soul.

A British and Commonwealth Middleweight title fight at the York Hall, Bethnal Green is just such a song. Northampton’s Kieron Conway, 23-3-1 (7) enters as the champion with much at stake. Across the ring will be the ‘Billericay Bomber’, George Liddard, he of the Olly Murs grin and the urgency of youth.

Kieron Conway vs George Liddard preview

For the uninitiated, the British title has been contested by some of the toughest men to lace them up; from Ted Lewis, Randy Turpin, Alan Minter and Tony Sibson to Herol Graham and Howard Eastman. The famous Lonsdale belt is held in high esteem and frequently draws from its competitor’s career best performances and fights that live long in the memory. York Hall is equally synonymous with the British title, and the famous over-hanging balcony level adds a unique dynamic to every fight beneath its lights.

In short, British title fights matter and rarely disappoint.

This is the stage for Conway and Liddard tonight. Conway enters as the seasoned fighter aged 29 and is looking to build toward higher prizes. He has ventured further before in a losing effort to Austin ‘Ammo’ Willians for a vacant International belt. Wins over Linus Ufofia and another stoppage victory in Japan against the game Ainiwaer Yilixiati most notable at the 160-pound limit. His early career spent at Super-Welterweight.

Conway is tall and has a well organised style, with 8 years as a professional behind him. He has physically matured into the division and looks a stronger puncher than his meagre knockout return implies. A curiosity of his style is a left jab he often leaves extended to block and disrupt the opponent and to obscure their vision too. He likes to explode the right hand behind it, and this looks a solid weapon in his arsenal. His feet don’t always follow in, so impact can be muted – evidenced by those 7 knockout wins from his 23 – but he is a tall, rangy, and confident fighter on a good run of form.

It is a surprise therefore to see his young opponent installed as a narrow favourite. Liddard, 12-0 (7), has boxed just 52 rounds as a professional and at 23, is dismissed by Conway as underdeveloped for the challenge the proud champion presents. At 5-10 Liddard is narrowly the shorter man, but boxes in a much more compact style. As you would expect from a younger professional still making his way, he has been more active, this will be his 5^th fight in little over a year. Unquestionably, Conway represents a significant step up.

A Step Up For George Liddard against Kieron Conway

None of Liddard’s opponents had the record or appetite to win that Conway’s toughest opponents did, so this does represent a gamble for the Kevin Mitchell-trained man. His win over Aaron Sutton in five rounds far and away his most significant win, Sutton was 19-1 going in but was wide open to Liddard’s potent hooks on the inside and was overwhelmed in 5. Scrutiny of Sutton’s competition in compiling that aesthetic record also undermines Liddard’s stoppage too.

Conway is the solid pick on the night and looks rugged, durable and assured. However, I think Liddard’s speed and tight combinations on the inside, if he can negotiate that lead hand, will cause the champion problems early on. There is a sense Conway is one paced. It gives him a consistency, but also a sense he is predictable in his style. Should Liddard grow in confidence the 23-year-old could edge this over the distance if his stamina holds up for 12 rounds.

They do have a shared opponent in Derrick Osaze. Liddard beat him on points in a competitive bout in January. Conway had boxed him over 3 rounds several years ago and dropped a decision. The comparison is therefore not particularly instructive.

There is a good style match here and prospects for a pulsating encounter. Liddard to win a decision in an absorbing fight remains a bold pick.

It will be a notable win for a young fighter despite his status as the marginal favourite with bookmakers.