Liam Williams: The Machine-The Light Middleweight Human Grist Mill Of Clydach Vale.

From the little footage I've seen of Corcoran, I think he's going to walk into something big. Williams throws sharp hurtful shots with both hands and I feel Corcoran's aggression will work against him.

 

Article on Williams from the Ring magazine the other day

LIAM WILLIAMS

Age: 24
Hometown: Clydach Vale, Wales
Weight class: Junior middleweight
Height: 5-foot-10 (178 cm)
Amateur record: 45-4
Turned pro: 2011
Pro record: 14-0-1, 9 knockouts
Trainer: Gary Lockett
Manager: Gary Lockett
Promoter: Frank ******
Twitter: @Liamdullw

Best night of pro career: Williams has really come into his own since returning from a career threatening hand injury. When asked for his best performance to date Williams is unsure.

“I don’t really know, I can’t really put my finger on one,” Williams told RingTV.com. “All my recent performances keep getting better. I don’t think I’ve produced my best performance yet, that’s still definitely to come.”

Williams trainer/manager Gary Lockett has worked with him since mid 2012 and feels his charges best win was late last year.

“There’s one performance that speaks volumes, there’s a guy called Kris Carlsaw that he fought to win the British title,” said Lockett. “Kris Carslaw has fought in K1, K2. He’s never been off his feet, [they wear] tiny gloves, [he’s taken] shin’s to the face, feet to the face and Liam knocked him out with a jab. That speaks volumes of Liam’s power, timing and judgement of distance. I’d say he looked good doing it.”

Worst night of pro career: At this juncture both Williams and Lockett are pleased with how all his fights have gone.

“I’ve had a couple better than others,” Williams said. “I’ve never really been disappointed with a performance. I’ve beat everything that’s been put in front of me.”

Although their is a blemish on Williams ledger, Lockett is quick to point out what he believes to be wrong.

“People say he’s had a draw, it was a technical draw, he was winning the fight by a mile and they clashed heads. It should be a no-contest.

“There’s no disappointments for us, Liam’s Commonwealth and British champion, he’s going into a fight against a good kid in [and fighting in] Wales for the first time in a about three years.

“There are no disappointments, these things are put there to test us and educate us, perhaps if Liam hadn’t had the time out he wouldn’t be the fighter he is now. He’s had time to go away and think about things. When he thought he was never going to box again, how much he really valued boxing, how much really loved boxing.”

Next fight: Williams puts his British and Commonwealth 154-pound titles on the lines against fellow unbeaten Gary Corcoran (15-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday live on BoxNation.

It will be the Welshman’s first fight in the principality since he appeared on the undercard of his compatriot and one-time stablemate Nathan Cleverly’s loss to Sergey Kovalev in the summer of 2013.

On paper it looks like a good trade fight with needle between both men.

“I’ll beat him whatever he comes to do,” he said. “I’ll outbox him and if he comes to have a fight and goes toe-to-toe, I think he’s gonna get hurt. Obviously, I respect him, [i’m] definitely not overlooking him.”

Why he’s a prospect: Williams was an eight-time Welsh champion and six-time British champion in the amateur ranks. He also won several minor multi-nations tournaments. He represented his country at 75 KG in the 2010 world junior amateur championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, losing to Leonardo Carillo of Colombia 5:2.

Since turning pro he’s gained valuable sparring with the likes of world rated George Groves, Chris Eubank Jr., Tom Langford as well as former gym mate Nick Blackwell and even current WBO junior middleweight boss Liam Smith.

The obvious target would be promotional stablemate Smith. However, Lockett cautions.

“We don’t really look past the next guy, Gary Corcoran is 15-0, but with the performances Liam puts on it’s hard not to think of him moving on to that world stage. All these guys Liam Smith, Jack Culcay, the Charlo’s, they’re all in Liam’s sites for the next couple of years but he’s still a relative novice. I’d love to see Liam get some ring time.”

There has been a recent buzz surrounding Williams. While he’s dispatched his last six opponents inside the distance, Lockett feels there’s more to his fighter’s game than just power.

“People might think he’s a puncher, he was going six and eight rounds regularly in his career but the way he’s developed the couple of years has meant, his timing has got better, he’s got more intelligent and he’s developed his punching power but when it comes to doing the rounds and showing everyone what a good engine he’s got it’s there, cause he’s dedicated.”

Lockett contested the WBC/WBO middleweight titles against Kelly Pavlik in 2008, since then he’s dedicated himself to training and likes what he sees in Williams.

“His ring craft is his biggest strength,” said Lockett. “You see in all of his fights he adapts very quickly to whatever the guy can do, he seems to find a way to make things relatively easy for himself.

“As far as I’m concerned everyone’s fooled because everyone thinks he’s a puncher, to me he’s a boxer, he’s a fantastic thinking boxer but we haven’t got that far yet where he has to call on those reserves of back-foot boxing, will it come in this fight, maybe. I just think Liam’s a level above.

“If Gary tries to fight he’s going to get knocked out early, if he tries to box he’s going to get outboxed. He’s a tough guy but I think the fighters he’s fought haven’t been anywhere near Liam’s class and I think Liam’s in the shape of his life and training harder than he’s ever done and I think that’s testament to how much we respect Gary.”

Why he’s a suspect: Williams is learning all the time and seems to have got better as he’s stepped up. The Corcoran fight will likely help us see what his window as a fighter is.

Still needs pro rounds to gain further experience, none of his last four opponents have got past the second round.

Hopefully his once career threatening hand injury doesn’t resurface further down the line. He was out of action for 13 months and one specialist advised him that he may not fight again.

Story lines: Williams had a good upbringing who admits he wasn’t very good in school and was a handful getting into a few s****s.

Williams took up boxing at an early age, boxing out of the Rhondda ABC. He excelled after being given the Welsh captaincy by coach Tony Williams.

He doesn’t have a particular boxing hero but likes to watch modern day greats Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Outside of the ring he’s a normal guy, he has a girlfriend and a young daughter. He likes to eat but stays in the gym and because of a nutritionist he’s been able to drop to 154.

Williams is a good runner, which is aided by the hills of the valleys former Welsh stars such as Joe Calzaghe and Nathan Cleverly so diligently ran. A couple of years ago Williams took part in Survival of the Fittest, which was over 10 miles and consisted of an obstacle course, swimming, etc., Williams came fourth out of 5,000 participants.

Fight-by-fight record:
　
2011
Nov. 19 – Ryan Clark – PTS 4
2012
Feb. 25 – Tommy Tolan – PTS 4

May 25 – Gilson De Jesus – PTS 4

Sept. 22 – Paul Morby – TKO 1

Nov. 30 – Tony Randell – TKO 1

2013
Feb. 23 – Dan Blackwell – TKO 3

May 4 – Jamie Ambler – PTS 6

Aug. 17 – Darren Codona – PTS 8

Dec. 7 – Tyan Booth – TD 3

2014

April 5 – Yuri Pompilio – TKO 8

July 26 – Ronnie Heffron – RTD 6

Oct. 25 – Stepan Horvath – KO 2

Nov. 24 – Michael Lomax – TKO 1

2015

Dec. 19 – Kris Carslaw – TKO 2
2016
June 4 – Gustavo Alberto Sanchez – TKO 3

 

The bad blood between them seems to have dissipated. I was watching this the other day and there are numerous instances where their eyes meet and they either smile or give each other a nod of acknowledgement

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Happens a few time at the weigh in too and they even smile and shake hands

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I got the impression from watching one of Corcoran's interviews a week or so ago that he was nervous of being on camera and I think, despite his shifty looking face, he's actually a nice guy. Both of them are.

 

I'm thinking it'll be a mid round stoppage too. I wouldn't be surprised if Williams gets him out of there early, but I don't know much about Corcoran so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he's as tough as they say he is.

 

Carslaw was crazy durable.

Horath lasted into the 8th against Buglioni and the 6th against Eubank Jr., Williams blasted him out in 2 with ease 4 months after he fought Eubank.

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Dan Blackwell was extremely durable, granted he was stopped on his feet and it did look a bit premature. He was getting battered though.

 

He looks like one of those scumbags who'd glass you or slice you up for no reason.

I do think he's probably actually a really nice guy now though.

 

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Liam Williams: "I more than held my own with everyone I sparred in Vegas"

Unbeaten British Super-Welter boss Liam Williams is back on Welsh soil and itching to rumble after a highly productive two week tutorial in the unforgiving fight gyms of Las Vegas, writes Glynn Evans.

The bull strong, bionic punching rumbler from the Rhondda meets Liverpool’s Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith at the Manchester Arena on April 8th and insists that his US excursion has placed him into the best form and condition of his five and a half year pro career.

Here, in his own words, he recounts the experience:

‘I went to Vegas for a full two weeks and sparred at three gyms; Skipper Kelp’s Fight Capital Gym, the (Ismael) Salas Boxing Academy and the Mayweather Gym. Unfortunately Floyd Jr wasn’t there; he’d probably got wind I was coming for him (laughs)!

‘We sparred Monday, Wednesday and Friday both weeks and got in some great work with (Cuba’s) Yordenis Ugas, a former world amateur champion and Olympic bronze medallist, plus a (9-0 middleweight) Quatavious Cash and a few of Mayweather’s super-middles. They all came to have a ‘go’.

‘It was a pretty hostile environment to be honest –especially at the Salas’ gym where you had loads of Cubans hanging over the ring ropes – but let’s just say I acquitted myself well, more than held my own with everyone I sparred.

‘When we first arrived, all the Yanks were a bit stand-offish but they warmed to us once they could see we meant business. When I popped into the Top Rank Gym, Derrick Harmon, an ex pro who’d beaten Glen Johnson and boxed Roy Jones, asked if I was ‘Liam from the UK’ because they’d heard on the grapevine good things about what I was doing in the other Vegas gyms. Word had got around.

‘The main purpose of the trip wasn’t really the sparring but to keep myself fresh mentally. I’ve been in training for quite a while and sometimes at Gary’s in Cardiff it could get a bit monotonous and repetitive.

‘We certainly didn’t go for a holiday – I worked my balls off – but it was great to be away from the distractions you get at home. I got to see The Strip and one night had a good feast at ‘Hooters’, as a treat. I stayed at a fabulous time share apartment with a big pool and spa so I could just lounge around the pool between training sessions. Very relaxing.

‘The weather was boiling – too hot to handle – and we were able to work outside. I ran up the steps in Majestic Park and did some tough runs up Red Rock Mountain. This camp I’ll certainly not have to worry about weight.

‘The all round Vegas experience – training alongside so many top pros and experienced coaches - has definitely made me a better all round fighter. Holding my own in different gyms in a different country really bolstered my confidence.

‘I’ll have two more weeks in Cardiff – lots of hard gym and track sessions - then we’ll wind down fight week. I’ve three more spars scheduled but once I feel ‘perfect’ I just stop, regardless of how far out the fight is. Nothing is set in stone.

‘Saturday 8th April is the toughest fight of my life, biggest occasion of my career and I’m really enjoying the moment, taking everything in my stride, sucking up the experience and atmosphere. I know there’s going to be many more even bigger and tougher fights ahead of me after I’ve dealt with Smith.’

 

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Wouldn't surprise me if it kicked off. In fact, I'd be surprised if it didn't lol.

Smith's a bit too full of himself for my liking. He's been carrying on like he's the bee's knees and like Williams doesn't even deserve to share a ring with him. I don't mind him but it's annoying.