Kieron Conway and George Liddard exchange war of words ahead of York Hall showdown
Kieron Conway vowed to make his rival George Liddard “shut up” – but the challenger is confident that he will still be smiling when they clash this Friday at York Hall – live on DAZN.
The pair traded their final verbal blows at a Press Conference in East London today as the count down to their eagerly awaited British & Commonwealth Middleweight Title clash nears.
Liddard’s stablemate Jimmy Sains went face-to-face with his opponent Troy Coleman for the first time as they get set to square-off for the vacant English Middleweight Championship.
Shannon Ryan and Chloe Watson meet for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Super Flyweight belt and stated their respective cases, whilst youngsters Tiah-Mai Ayton, Adam Maca, Taylor Bevan, Leli Buttigieg and Jermaine Dhliwayo were all in attendance too.
Matchroom Boxing CEO, Frank Smith
“The atmosphere in there on Friday is going to be something special. You have to respect both guys. George is taking the fight very early on in his career. He believes in himself as does Tony. Many fighters in Kieron’s position would probably look at George and probably wouldn’t want to go into a fight like this. I respect both of them for taking the fight. For us, even though we promote both guys, it’s about making the best fights possible. That’s what we’ve done here. This is a brilliant fight that people buy into. Both guys believe they can win. You saw it in the promo. They’re both going to give it 100%. It’s a real fight that can change the direction of their careers. It’s exactly the kind of thing we want to do more of.”
Kieron Conway
“Now I’m here. This is what it’s about. It’s not about the ones I’ve been in before. They were big, and I took that experience and I’ll take that into the ring. But it’s not about that now. It’s about this one and this is the one I’m focused on. Some of my previous performances when I was a bit younger, maybe I was more concerned about not losing. Things happen in your career; things happen in your life – I think they flick the switch for me. Now I want to hurt these guys. I’ve up these titles, picked up other titles along the way. He talks a lot about wanting these belts. After I knock him out, I’ll give him these belts. I don’t believe the confidence at all. I think that he’s convinced himself, he’s looked in the mirror enough times and said these quotes that he keeps putting out there. I just don’t think that it’s true. I definitely don’t believe the hype. Friday night, I just want to shut him up.”
George Liddard
“This is everything. You’ve seen my smile. I love this. I smile when I come to the ring. I live for this. This is everything. I want to achieve great things in this sport. I’ve never shied away from a challenge. I always want to test myself against the best. Domestically right now, he’s classed as the best. He’s got the belts and I want them strapped around me. This is the fight for me. I didn’t get to fight for the Southern Area, I didn’t get to fight for the English. I wanted to fight for them. It was out of my hands. Nobody wanted to fight me. We picked up the Commonwealth Silver. I won a British Title Eliminator – it’s led me to this. I’ve earned my way here. Fight on fight I’ve always stepped up. Anyone that’s been put to me – I said yes. I never shy away from a challenge and this is my next step. I can’t wait for it. I believe he hasn’t boxed someone with the ability I have. He’s been in with some good fighters. But the mixture that I have, I feel like I have all of the right ingredients of a great fighter. I can adapt to any fighter. I just do not believe that he’ll be able to live with me come Friday night.”
Jimmy Sains
“I think everything has fallen into place at the right time. I’ve just won the Southern Area Title. I’ve always wanted to go the traditional route, and this English Title is the next step. It was supposed to be a Final Eliminator but Linus Udofia has obviously retired so me and Troy have got pushed on to fight for the vacant belt. Perfect timing. Looking back, those 10 rounds in my last fight have given me so much to improve on. I’ve learnt more from that fight than all my other fights put together. Me and Tony sat down and watched the fight. We’ve picked out things that I did well and we’ve picked out a lot of things I could improve on. That’s what we’ve been working on. Hopefully you’ll see a better performance from Jimmy Sains come Friday night.”
Troy Coleman
“He’s definitely up there with my best opponents and I’ve treated it like it’s my hardest fight. This is my eighth championship fight now. I’ve lost two. I’ve been on the road for pretty much all my career. I’m definitely in good stead for this, I’m feeling like it’s my time. Everything is at stake. It’s a massive opportunity. I actually asked for this fight myself. I messaged the matchmaker myself and asked. I know what’s at the end of these fights – big opportunities. That’s what I want and I’m ready for it.”
Shannon Ryan
“Chloe is a good fighter, irrespective of the loss that she took. It’s a 50-50 fight and it’s one that I want and it’s one that the people want to see. That’s what boxing needs in the female divisions. I think my boxing brain, my IQ, I’m explosive. We’re both sharp. I just think how I am as an individual now compared to where I was is just completely different.”
Chloe Watson
“As women, I feel like we’ve got to be in these exciting fights. Women are here to show what we’re about and I believe you’ll see that on Saturday night. To be honest when I first turned over there wasn’t many girls at my weight category. So it excited me when people started turning over, especially being promoted by Matchroom. Obviously you’ve got MVP now as well. She’s been someone I’ve looked at as a potential fight in the future. I’m happy we’re here. My last fight was a close fight. I learnt that I don’t like losing. It’s up to me to make sure that doesn’t happen again. I feel like I’ve taken the action that I needed to take to make sure that doesn’t happen again. I was hungry after that fight and I was hungry before that fight. That’s what I’m about and that’s what I’m going to show on Friday.”
Tiah-Mai Ayton
“It’s crazy that she (Katie Taylor) said that about me. Little me would have been like, ‘oh my god, Katie Taylor is gassing me up’. When I’m in the gym now I just think if she (Katie) thinks I can be the best woman boxer to ever live, then going to the gym every day is all worth it. Hopefully I can live up to that standard that she’s told everyone about. I’ve never lost. I did when I was 8 but that doesn’t really count. I couldn’t see another woman, or anyone, beating me, ever. I just wouldn’t allow that to ever happen to me. I just give it my all. I want to deliver an entertaining fight. I won’t look for the stoppage because I feel like I need to calm down a bit and just show people that I am a good boxer as well. Hopefully I can deliver another good fight and keep my Instagram going up!”
Taylor Bevan
“I’m very satisfied with the first year or my professional career. I can’t thank Matchroom enough for all they’ve done for me. I’ve got great momentum. This is my sixth fight in my first year of boxing. I couldn’t have asked for much more. It’s my first eight rounder. I’m looking to go in there and put on a clinical performance. I think my first five fights have been entertaining. I want to go in there on Friday night and put in a skilful performance. I’ll pick the right time for a bit of carnage. I believe I can go the whole way, especially with people like Frank and Eddie backing me. They’ve seen it all and they know how far a fighter can go. It gives me the ultimate confidence knowing they’re supporting me on my journey.”
Adam Maca
“I’m enjoying the whole pro game. 1-0, 2-0, getting the knockouts and all the media. But it’s just getting back to the gym and working on the little mistakes we were making in the ring, and not making them again, which I enjoy the most. Since I first started boxing, I remember I had my first sparring session and all I thought was just to smash and just get them out of there. I’ve just always kept that mindset of, like he said, destruct and destroy. I got the rounds in the bank last time out and got the stoppage. Perfect. I want another clinical performance on Friday and to get another knockout.”
Leli Buttigieg
“As you saw with my last two opponents, the more they come to fight, the better I look. I’m not in boxing for easy fights. I know what I want to achieve in the sport. Whatever comes my way I’m ready for it. The harder the fights are the more it drives me in the gym to train hard and to keep learning more. I’m ready for whatever. The man strength is starting to come through. At first, I was more of a little boy. The power wasn’t there. I’m sitting down more on my shots now and I’m starting to feel my main strength. The skills have always been there. I outbox most of these guys. Whether I have the strength or not, I have the skills to go all of the way. I’m just ready for Friday night and I’m going to do the business.”
Jermaine Dhliwayo
“Derek Chisora is my uncle. He just called me about ten minutes ago to be honest with you, and he was like, ‘send me a picture of your outfit’. Hopefully I look good right now. He said make sure you smile. Hopefully he’s impressed. Expect an old school fighter, I’m talking about Marvin Hagler, Duran, someone who is ready to go to war, but someone who can also box like Sugar Ray Leonard if he has to. My ambition is to become one of the greats. I’m trying to be like one of the guys I’ve just mentioned. It starts now. Destruct and destroy to be honest with you and just perform.”