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Liam Williams (boxer)

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Liam Williams
Born (1992-05-26) 26 May 1992 (age 32)
NationalityWelsh
Other namesThe Machine
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach70 in (178 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights31
Wins25
Wins by KO20
Losses5
Draws1
Websitewww.liamwilliams.co.uk

Liam Williams (born 26 May 1992) is a Welsh former professional boxer who competed from 2011 to 2024. He has challenged once for the WBO interim light-middleweight title in 2017, and once for the WBO middleweight title in 2021. At regional level, he has held multiple championships, including the Commonwealth light-middleweight title from 2014 to 2015; the British light-middleweight title from 2015 to 2016; and the British middleweight title from 2018 to 2020.

Early life

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Williams was born in Church Village and currently resides in Clydach Vale in the Rhondda Valleys. Prior to his professional boxing career, he worked as a roofer.[1]

Amateur career

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In an amateur career which he claims began at age nine, Williams says he won 44 out of 49 fights, gaining many awards in Britain and Europe. "I won seven Welsh titles at all age levels, including the 2011 Senior ABAs when I was just 18. I beat Warren Sinden, who’s now a pro, by a wide points margin in the 75KG final."[2]

Professional career

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Williams turned professional as a light-middleweight in 2011. Aged 18, he won every round against the more experienced Ryan Clark[3] and won the vacant Commonwealth light-middleweight title in November 2014 with a 2nd-round-stoppage win over Michael Lomax.[4]

Williams vs. Carslaw

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The following year, he added the vacant British national title by stopping Kris Carslaw in the second round of their bout at Manchester Arena.[5]

Williams vs. Corcoran

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He retained both titles in defeating a previously unbeaten Gary Corcoran at the Ice Arena Wales on 16 July 2016 with an 11th-round stoppage in what has been described as a gruesome grudge match.[6]

Williams vs. Smith

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Williams was controversially defeated by former WBO light-middleweight world champion Liam Smith on 8 April 2017 at the Manchester Arena. Owing to incorrect weight for the bout,[7] Smith was ineligible to inherit the interim WBO light-middleweight world title (held by Canelo Álvarez who is moving to a higher weight and expected to vacate the title).[8]

Williams vs. Fox

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On 21 December 2019 Williams fought Alantez Fox, ranked #2 by the WBO and #12 by the IBF at middleweight. Williams won the fight with a fifth-round stoppage.[9][10]

Williams vs. Robinson

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On 10 October 2020 Williams defeated Andrew Robinson with a first-round knockout.[11][12]

Williams vs. Andrade

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On 17 April 2021, Williams unsuccessfully challenged undefeated WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade for his world title, losing a unanimous decision with scores of 118–109, 118–109, 116–111.[13][14]

Williams vs. Eubank Jr

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On 5 February 2022 Williams fought Chris Eubank Jr, ranked #1 by the WBA, #3 by the WBC, #5 by the WBO and #7 by The Ring. Eubank Jr scored four knockdowns en route to a 12-round unanimous decision victory, the judges scoring it 117-109, 116-109 and 116-108 for Eubank Jr.[15][16]

Williams vs. Sheeraz

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Williams was stopped in round one by Commonwealth middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz at the Copper Box Arena in London on 10 February 2024.[17][18]

Retirement

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Williams announced his retirement from professional boxing in October 2024, stating he had suffered several concussions throughout his career and was concerned about chronic traumatic encephalopathy.[19][20]

Professional boxing record

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31 fights 25 wins 5 losses
By knockout 20 2
By decision 5 3
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
31 Loss 25–5–1 Hamzah Sheeraz TKO 1 (12), 2:36 10 Feb 2024 Copper Box Arena, London, England For WBC Silver and Commonwealth middleweight titles
30 Win 25–4–1 Florin Cardos TKO 1 (8), 1:17 24 Nov 2023 York Hall, London, England
29 Win 24–4–1 Nizar Trimech TKO 2 (10), 2:13 25 Nov 2022 York Hall, London, England
28 Loss 23–4–1 Chris Eubank Jr. UD 12 5 Feb 2022 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
27 Loss 23–3–1 Demetrius Andrade UD 12 17 Apr 2021 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, US For WBO middleweight title
26 Win 23–2–1 Andrew Robinson KO 1 (12), 1:28 10 Oct 2020 BT Sport Studio, London, England Retained British middleweight title
25 Win 22–2–1 Alantez Fox TKO 5 (12), 2:59 21 Dec 2019 Copper Box Arena, London, England Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title
24 Win 21–2–1 Karim Achour TKO 2 (12), 1:51 13 Jul 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England Won vacant WBC Silver middleweight title
23 Win 20–2–1 Joe Mullender KO 2 (12), 1:09 8 Mar 2019 Royal Albert Hall, London, England Retained British middleweight title
22 Win 19–2–1 Mark Heffron TKO 10 (12), 1:55 22 Dec 2018 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England Won vacant British middleweight title
21 Win 18–2–1 Craig Nicholson KO 2 (8), 2:36 7 Sep 2018 Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff, Wales
20 Win 17–2–1 Darryl Sharp TKO 3 (8), 1:49 14 Apr 2018 Ice Arena, Cardiff, Wales
19 Loss 16–2–1 Liam Smith MD 12 11 Nov 2017 Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
18 Loss 16–1–1 Liam Smith RTD 9 (12), 3:00 8 Apr 2017 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England For WBO interim light-middleweight title
17 Win 16–0–1 Gabor Görbics TKO 8 (10), 1:30 26 Nov 2016 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales Won vacant WBO European light-middleweight title
16 Win 15–0–1 Gary Corcoran TKO 11 (12), 2:10 16 Jul 2016 Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, England Retained British light-middleweight title
15 Win 14–0–1 Gustavo Alberto Sanchez TKO 3 (8), 2:03 4 Jun 2016 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
14 Win 13–0–1 Kris Carslaw TKO 2 (12), 0:10 19 Dec 2015 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England Retain Commonwealth light-middleweight title;
Won vacant British light-middleweight title
13 Win 12–0–1 Michael Lomax TKO 1 (12), 2:48 27 Nov 2014 Hilton Hotel, London, England Won vacant Commonwealth light-middleweight title
12 Win 11–0–1 Štěpán Horváth KO 2 (8), 0:36 25 Oct 2014 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
11 Win 10–0–1 Ronnie Heffron RTD 6 (10), 3:00 26 Jul 2014 Phones 4u Arena, Manchester, England
10 Win 9–0–1 Yuri Pompilio TKO 8 (8), 0:53 5 Apr 2014 Stadthalle, Rostock, Germany
9 Draw 8–0–1 Tyan Booth TD 3 (8), 1:08 7 Dec 2013 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England TD after Booth cut from accidental head clash
8 Win 8–0 Darren Codona PTS 8 17 Aug 2013 Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, Wales
7 Win 7–0 Jamie Ambler PTS 6 4 May 2013 Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Tylorstown, Wales
6 Win 6–0 Dan Blackwell TKO 3 (6), 1:16 23 Feb 2013 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales
5 Win 5–0 Tony Randell TKO 1 (4), 1:04 30 Nov 2012 Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
4 Win 4–0 Paul Morby TKO 1 (4), 0:21 22 Sep 2012 Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Tylorstown, Wales
3 Win 3–0 Gilson De Jesus PTS 4 25 May 2012 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales
2 Win 2–0 Tommy Tolan PTS 4 25 Feb 2012 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
1 Win 1–0 Ryan Clark PTS 4 19 Nov 2011 Newport Centre, Newport, Wales

References

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  1. ^ "The Rhondda roofer who could be Wales' next boxing world champion". 18 January 2019.
  2. ^ Evans, Glynn (31 December 2014). "In Depth With Liam Williams". boxingnews24.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. ^ McRae, Donald. Liam Williams: It’s unusual for one terrible incident to happen in your career. But twice? The Guardian, 17 October 2016
  4. ^ "Statistics at boxrec.com". boxrec.com. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  5. ^ Welsh boxer Liam Williams wins British and Commonwealth titles. Wales Online, 20 December 2015
  6. ^ Bunce, Steve, Liam Williams and Gary Corcoran gave us a rare, genuine grudge match. The Independent, 19 July 2016
  7. ^ Pearlman, Michael (8 April 2017). "Liam Smith beats Liam Williams after the Welshman's corner pull him out". BBC Sport Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  8. ^ Rafael, Dan (24 March 2017). "Liam Smith and Liam Williams to fight for WBO interim junior middleweight title". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Liam Williams Drops, Batters, Stops Alantez Fox in Fifth". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Liam Williams Dispatches Fox; Becomes WBO Mandatory!". 3kingsboxing. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Liam Williams Crushes Andrew Robinson in One Round". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Liam Williams: Welshman stops Andrew Robinson in first round". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Demetrius Andrade flashes all skills in outclassing Liam Williams toward unanimous decision | DAZN News UK". DAZN. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Demetrius Andrade Drops, Decisions a Game Liam Williams To Retain". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Chris Eubank Jr knocked Liam Williams down four times in a statement win to settle their rivalry". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Chris Eubank Jr. Drops Liam Williams Four Times, Wins Decision". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Boxing: Hamzah Sheeraz stops Liam Williams in one round in London". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Hamzah Sheeraz Destroys Liam Williams in One Round". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Boxer Williams retires after 'several concussions'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Liam Williams announces his retirement at 32, citing a fear of CTE as a contributing factor". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
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