GEORGE LIDDARD is hoping to wipe out the middleweight competition having gone from windscreen fitter to boxing prospect.
The West Ham super-fan was an elite amateur, winning four national titles and medals on the international stage.
George Liddard is the West Ham super-fan and middleweight boxing hopeful[/caption]
Liddard is a regular at West Ham games[/caption]
But he snubbed the chance to earn a place on the Team GB Olympic squad to instead turn professional in 2022 under Eddie Hearn.
It came after a brief absence from the ring as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, where Liddard worked for a windscreen fitting company.
He told the Hammers website: “I was part of Team England, and then Covid-19 hit, and there was a lot of uncertainty in my life.
“During that period, I ended up working with my dad at a windscreen company.
“I got defeated by a well-known Great Britain fighter in a close fight after the pandemic, and that was the moment I said to myself to give it a go.
“I got a text from Tony Sims, one of the legendary boxing trainers, asking me to spar with John Ryder.
“So I went down there and gave a good account of myself. I’ve been at the Matchroom Gym ever since and have never looked back.”
Liddard is 12-0 and returns on Friday night at York Hall in his biggest fight to date – challenging Kieron Conway for the British and Commonwealth middleweight title.
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He said: “I wouldn’t be in this fight if I wholeheartedly believe I can win this fight.
“I didn’t need to take this fight, I want to take this fight. It’s a big opportunity for me, I’m next in line to fight for these titles.
“There is no Plan B for me, boxing is it for me. I genuinely believe I can go on and achieve big things in the sport.
“This is a stepping stone to those moments. He’s in good form, stopping three out of his last four which is good because I don’t want any excuses.
“He’s got everything to lose in this fight and I’ve got everything to gain.
“I genuinely think I’ll knock Conway out, this fight changes everything for me.
“I know I’m good enough but have to prove it to the world, and the next fight is another opportunity to do that.
I genuinely think I’ll knock Conway out, this fight changes everything for me.
George Liddard
“I’m in this game to be a world champion, and I want to win world titles down the line. I will be a world champion someday; I know that for sure.
“I look forward to the day I stand there with a world title belt and say, I made it.”
Liddard dons the famous claret and blue when he steps into the ring and regularly sits in the Hammers stands outside the ropes.
He said: “I couldn’t pinpoint an exact moment when I started supporting West Ham, but I’ve followed the Club all of my life and attend home games now with my sponsor, ABSM Building Services.
“I would have loved to have been at the Conference League final, but I was fighting on that Saturday.
“I remember watching it in the hotel and being ecstatic when Jarrod [Bowen] scored that goal.
“I was gutted to have not been there, but I won the fight, so it was a memorable weekend.”
Kieron Conway faces Liddard next[/caption]
