George Liddard tells Tyler Denny: “I am bigger, stronger, faster and better in every aspect”
The talking is over for George Liddard and Tyler Denny as they went head-to-head at the final Press Conference ahead of their showdown this Saturday.
Liddard, 23, defends his British & Commonwealth Middleweight Titles for the first time as part of a huge Matchroom Boxing double header live on the Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.
Across the pond, in the USA, at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando, Florida, Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams challenges Carlos Adames for the WBC World Middleweight Championship.
Attention focuses on East London first, however, as Liddard and Denny headline a stacked card at the Copper Box Arena.
Giorgio Visioli defends his English Lightweight Title against Levi Giles as Liddard’s stablemate Jimmy Sains puts his English Middleweight belt on the line against Derrick Osaze. Leli Buttigieg will have his eye on facing the winner of that fight, should he overcome Jake Goodwin in an eliminator for that strap earlier in the evening.
Connor Mitchell – son of British boxing cult hero Kevin Mitchell, steps into the ring for his second pro fight when he faces Italy’s Yuri Zanoli. Rising Super Middleweight sensation Taylor Bevan goes toe-to-toe with Martin Ezequiel Bulacio, as undefeated Featherweight prospect Adam Maca meets Malta’s Lydon Chircop. And impressive, amateur Super Featherweight standout Louie Ward – trained by John Ryder – makes his professional debut against Jahfieus Faure.
Here are some selected quotes from Thursday’s Press Conference – which you can watch back in full in the video player below.
GEORGE LIDDARD
I’m very excited for Saturday night. I cannot wait. All the hard work is done now. This is the fun part for me now. It’s an occasion for me where I can turn up and enjoy all of this. The real business is Saturday night and that’s what I’m looking forward to. Tyler is a good fighter – he’s been in with some good fighters and has plenty of experience. I just believe that I am the better man. I believe I am the better fighter and you’ll see that on Saturday night. He’s saying I’m a nice kid but I’ve got a very dark side to me, which comes out when I fight. The last person who told me I was acting, look what happened. That’s all I’ve got to say. There isn’t an act to this. I love what I do. I live for this and I love the whole art of this fighting game. I think in the last two years I have really grown from a boy to a man. I just believe that I am bigger, stronger, faster and better in every aspect. I will get the job done by any means. If it has to be a 12-round war, then I’m ready for that. If it got changed to a 15-rounder, I’d be ready for it. I train for 15 and 18-rounds. We can go into deep waters, if he wants to go into deep waters. But when I’m on my game, there aren’t too many people who would be able to survive with me for long. I do believe that I will get the job done in style.
TYLER DENNY
It’s just business as usual for me. For most of my career, in all the big fights, I have always been the underdog. So it means nothing to me. I’m glad there’s going to be loads of people there watching because it works in the favour of when they’re cheering him, and I’m punching his head in, it will be nice and I’m going to thrive of that. They obviously believe in him and have made him a headliner at the Copper Box. Even the West Ham stuff yesterday, they clearly believe in him. Fair play. But I’m on my own path and I’ve still got a lot left and I feel like I’m even better than ever. He’s a good fighter and he’s someone who i have a lot of respect for. You don’t have his amateur accolades or become a British & Commonwealth Champion if you’re not a good fighter. I never understand when people are fighting someone and they say they are no good. If you beat them, then you’ve not beaten anyone who is good. I think he is a top fighter and he’ll have a good future. But Saturday is not going to be his night. My confidence is at an all time high. I’m going to take those belts. I feel unbelievable at the minute and I can’t wait for Saturday.
JIMMY SAINS
These are the sort of fights that I want and the sort of fights that make me want to train harder in the gym. When I train hard, it ensures that I am ready for this level of fight, so it’s great motivation. On paper, this is definitely the hardest fight I’ve had so far. Obviously, he’s game and he’s ready because he wants to win. He wants to keep pushing up the ranks, but so do I. That is going to bring out a better Jimmy Sains on the night and I’m going to have to make sure that I am on my game. George [Liddard] has given me a few tips but that was a different fight. Derrick could have gone back and completely changed what he wants to do and what he has worked since because that was a long time ago now. He may be a different fighter. I know I’m a different fighter to George, so I can’t look too much into what he did – I’ve just got to get in there and quickly work it out myself. Obviously I want knockouts because everybody wants to see knockouts. But as long as I come away with the win and bring that English title back to Brentwood, then I’ll be very happy.
DERRICK OSAZE
Firstly, thank you to Matchroom and to Ftank Smith and Eddie [Hearn] for the opportunity. They did say they’d get me on again, and they have. They are men of their words. In terms of this fight, I hear the terminology and words such as ’stepping stone’ and ’test’. But I’ll say what I said in my last Press Conference with [George] Liddard: I’m not trying to be a test or a stepping stone. All respect to Jimmy [Sains]. He’s genuinely a great guy. But I refuse to be the name in the gym that both he and Liddard boxed. In comparison to that fight, I’m feeling a bit darker if I’m being honest. I’ve got some serious, dark intent and you can see in the way I’ve dressed here today, that I’m not here to play any games. I’m going to do what I need to do when I get in that ring and let my hands go. I’m grateful to God that I’m still here in this sport and still physically capable. I’ve been around for a long time and haven’t had the activity I would have perhaps wanted – but I’m low mileage. For me, the goal remains to go as far as I can and keep doing what I do. Whenever that time comes, I want to look back and say I had no regrets and did everything I could do. For me, I need to win by all means necessary. Jimmy’s a good fighter and it will be a good fight.
GIORGIO VISIOLI
I’ve gained a massive experience from training in America. I went last March as well and sparred many great fighters out there. I came back then, sharp as anything against Kane Baker, and you saw that I stopped him in four rounds. So I thought for this camp, let’s go to Vegas again. I needed to invest in myself, which not many people are always willing to do. It came out of my own pocket but that’s the sort of sacrifice you need. I got some great training over there. I sparred Regis Prograis and just gained some great experience. Coming back, I think it is going to stand me in good stead for Saturday. Of course, I’d welcome a stoppage. But, for me, I always just go into the ring and do my thing, then let the stoppages come. Yes, Levi has never been stopped before. But he’s never faced someone like me before. Big respect to him for taking the fight, but there will be levels shown on Saturday. I know how good I am and I know what I’ve done in this camp to show what I can do. By any means, I want to win.
LEVI GILES
I’ve had a fantastic camp and I’m going to give him [Giorgio Visioli] a tough night on Saturday night. Everything has gone really well. Giorgio is a good kid and he’s done everything that has been asked of him, making a noise in gyms and that – it’s funny, it’s good. He’s obviously got a massive following, so it is a massive opportunity for me and one I am going to grasp with both hands. It’s going to be a hard fight but every fight at this level is hard. I’ve been in with the Reece Bellotti’s of this world. And stepping up to Lightweight is going to be a big move for us, because there isn’t as much struggle in making the weight. Of course, it is a struggle but nothing like what Super Featherweight was for me. I feel good at the weight, I feel big, and I’ve always sparred heavier lads anyway. So, yes, it’s another tough night but one that me and my team are fully confident going into that I can overcome.
LELI BUTTIGIEG
I think Jake Goodwin is very tough and strong. He’s going to come to fight – which is what I want. The last couple of opponents I’ve had haven’t tried to do that at all. They went on the back foot and went running for eight rounds. He’s going to come forward and that is going to bring out the best in me. I’m stepping up every time and Jake Goodwin coming to fight just adds more fuel to the fire for me. I’ve got a lot of respect for Jimmy [Sains – the current English Middleweight Champion, which this fight is a final eliminator for]. I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve got one mission for now and that is to win on Saturday night. After that, we will sit and talk about what is next.
TAYLOR BEVAN
I’ve only been a pro for 16 months, so I’m massively thankful to Matchroom, and to Eddie [Hearn] and Frank [Smith] for keeping me so active. I’ve got a tough, durable opponent on Saturday night who will hopefully take me through some more rounds, which will give me the opportunity to show a bit more of my boxing skills and boxing IQ. Previously, I’ve gone in there and blasted people out of there. It looks good for the cameras and the showreel but I want to show that I can box as well, and I want to show that on Saturday night. I’ve really enjoyed my journey so far – I’ve been super busy. I haven’t really had too much time to sit and reflect on it so far. But I feel like I’m only just starting to settle into it, with the stage I’m at right now. I know for my last fight, I certainly settled into it a lot more and showed that I can box, as well as knock people out. I’d love to one day headline a show down in Southampton. I’ve had great support coming to cheer me on all around the country since I turned over, so it would be amazing to have a show down there. Boxing on the South Coast is growing all the time, so it is definitely something I am interested in.
LOUIE WARD
It all feels a bit surreal. It’s a big moment for me and I can’t wait to get in the ring on Saturday night and shine. I’m getting used to things but it’s obviously very different to being in the amateurs. I’m sitting down on my punches more and slowing things down. I’m taking in all the lights and the cameras – it’s different. I’m just going to soak it all in and enjoy every moment. You only get one debut. The dream is for a stoppage win.
ADAM MACA
i’ve got that extra bit of confidence in myself now. I know now that I don’t have to go out and rush anything. I can take my time and show off my boxing ability, that perhaps I haven’t shown too much yet in my first four fights. I’ll definitely feel more comfortable getting behind my jab for the first few rounds then probably taking them out quicker. I think my opponent has only lost to the likes of Josh Padley, Aqib Fiaz and one other – so they are top fighters. For me to go in there on Saturday and put on a great performance, then take him out, would be a bit of a statement win.
CONNOR MITCHELL
I wasn’t nervous at all for my debut [last December]. I remember my dad [Kevin Mitchell] saying to me, ‘Don’t be nervous, son’. I was fine. It was quite weird in that sense but it was a good stoppage victory and I showed my power. As an amateur, I never stopped anyone so it was a good thing to do [on my debut]. It’s important for me now to keep stepping up and keep stepping up with the quality of opponents because once I get to the level I want to be at, there’s no going back. So, I am keen to keep on learning, keep on having these step-ups and show just how good I am.
