Junior featherweight Liam Davies and fellow unbeaten contender Shabaz Masoud will lock horns on Saturday on the Resorts World Enviornment, Birmingham, England.
Davies, rated at No. 5 by The Ring at junior featherweight, had been scheduled to face his home rival in the summertime just for these plans to be shelved resulting from a virus.
Now match and wholesome, Davies intends to make an announcement after some discord between the 2 camps.
“It’s struggle No. 17, it’s the right struggle for me, one other undefeated opponent and one I’m very assured in profitable,” Davies (16-0, 8 knockouts) advised The Ring.
“I wouldn’t actually say between me and Shabaz, it’s the those who he’s with and so they method they’ve gone about it. It’s finished my head in. It’s simply messaging. It’s the way in which they’ve gone about it and to me they’ve crossed the road. So poor Shabaz goes to need to take the punishment for it.”
Nevertheless, that’s to not say Davies doesn’t acknowledge the potential hazard he faces.
“Yeah, he’s good, I’m not going to discredit him if he was no good,” mentioned Davies. “He’s unbeaten, he’s overwhelmed everybody put in entrance of him to date. I really feel like that is his huge step up now. He’s going to need to be higher than what he’s proven. He’s a very good boxer, he’s sharp. I don’t suppose he’s the strongest however there’s just one approach to discover out.
“He’s acquired a very good group behind him and good set of abilities however at this stage one or two packing containers ticking isn’t sufficient, you’ve acquired to have a little bit of all the things. Particularly strength-wise, not even punching energy, I don’t suppose bodily he’s proven a lot energy. He acquired bullied by the Colombian, [Jose Sanmartin] who I simply noticed acquired beat by the American [Elijah Pierce.] The lad he fought [Marvin Solano] after we had been meant to struggle simply acquired banjo’d by Brad Strand, who I don’t consider is an enormous puncher. However on the evening that’s the one approach to discover out.”
Curiously and including one other lay of intrigue and storyline to proceedings, the 2 met twice within the amateurs of their teenagers.
“Yeah, one after we had been 13, 14 and one after we had been 17, a very long time in the past,” he recalled. “They attempt to make out he battered me however he received on break up determination. I don’t know anybody that acquired battered and misplaced on a break up determination, do you? They discuss crap. It’s a very long time in the past and it’s totally different struggle now. Everybody retains asking me about it and it’s so irrelevant. The lad they fought then would have by no means been on this place I’m now. So much has modified. I hope he doesn’t take an excessive amount of into it as a result of he’s going to have an enormous shock on November 2.”
The 28-year-old has beforehand received British, Commonwealth and European titles and presently wears the lesser-regarded IBO title (not acknowledged by The Ring).
Davies feels he’s able to face the very best not simply in his division but additionally in boxing.
“I wish to go to Japan, that’s my focus. There’s nothing else for me within the division, I’ve received all the things, I’ve hand over titles for those who don’t wish to struggle me,” he mentioned with a playful dig at unbeaten Dennis McCann, who has collected his previous titles. “After this struggle until one thing is huge in Saudi or Japan, perhaps I’ll transfer up as a result of I’ve achieved all the things at this weight. The one factor I haven’t is combating Inoue.
“[The Ring and undisputed champion Naoya] Inoue is the very best and I’ve finished this from a younger lad and all the time got down to be the very best so, I’d simply admire and be very grateful at my shot and switch as much as give it all the things. He’s an excellent champion however I simply really feel like I’m an excellent boxer, I hit onerous and I give myself an excellent shot regardless that folks make out you aint, while you’ve finished it all of your life why would you desire a shot at the very best.”
Although cautions he would additionally entertain a transfer up in weight if the struggle isn’t forthcoming.
“I’m not going to attend round endlessly, I’m alone journey,” he mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve acquired a very good probability to win world titles at featherweight as properly.
“I might go up and are available again down. Whenever you struggle and who you struggle is out of my management. I don’t ask questions of when, I simply ask to get out as quickly as potential. You get one go at boxing, I’m not ready round for no man, I’m writing my very own story. I’ve been prepared this yr and he’s tied up with fights. It doesn’t look very doubtless however you by no means know, Sam Goodman or somebody pulls out, I’ll be prepared. To me, I beat [Inoue], I’m the person.”
Masoud (13-0, 4 KOs) turned skilled in 2018. The Englishman initially went down the small corridor route earlier than impressing the powers that be and combating on Matchroom and laterly Queensberry Promotions. The 28-year-old slickster holds win over beforehand unbeaten Jack Bateson (TKO 12) and gatekeeper Jose Sanmartin (SD 10).
Davies-Masoud, plus undercard motion, might be broadcast on TNT Sports activities at 7:00 p.m. GMT.
Questions and/or feedback might be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
