PAGES OF SUPER
Conlan’s chance to get even for Rio
LIAM WILLIAMS has the chance next week to take a huge step towards a world title shot.
And the Welshman is ready to take it by hunting down a Fox.
Williams has been revitalised by his move up to middleweight and takes on WBO No.1 contender Alantez Fox at the Copper Box in London next Saturday.
A win against the American will put him in pole position to fight WBO champion Demetrius Andrade, should he defend the belt against
Luke Keeler next month in Miami.
Williams
(inset) was huge down at 11st but he has taken his punching power and resilience up to the higher division.
The man from Church Village has stopped everyone he has faced so far at 11st 6lb.
He came very close to winning a world title at light-middleweight but came up short twice against Liam Smith in two very entertaining fights.
Now with new trainer Dom Ingle, he continues to improve and he won’t be on top
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Interview by CHRIS McKENNA of the Christmas lists for any of the middleweight champs.
That is why we have to move Williams into a mandatory position to make sure he gets his shot, because I can’t see any of the belt holders giving him an opportunity voluntarily.
Why would they? He’s going to be a tough fight for anyone.
First is first and he must catch Fox next week to keep on track. The ‘Fight Before Christmas’ card really is a cracker, with Daniel Dubois against Kyotaro Fujimoto the top of the bill.
But Love Island star Tommy Fury also returns to boxing next week.
Tyson’s younger brother has had interest in him since he turned pro, but now, after his stint on the ITV reality show, the spotlight is huge.
Usually a prospect going into his third fight would be low down the card, but Fury will be featuring high up on this one and will have to deal with the pressure that comes his way.
THEY say revenge is a dish best served cold.
Well, Michael Conlan gets his chance to avenge THAT moment from the Rio 2016 Olympics in a freezing New York tonight.
Conlan takes on Russian Vladimir Nikitin at Madison Square Garden.
It was in Brazil when Nikitin got handed the gift of all gifts against Conlan in the Olympic quarter-finals.
The Irishman had gone into the tournament as the reigning world and European champion.
There was huge anticipation about a potential meeting with talented American Shakur Stevenson and clever Cuban Robeisy Ramirez.
Instead, Conlan gave the one-finger salute to the officials ringside before an expletiveladen rant on Irish TV at the sport’s governing body went viral after he was robbed of a clear win.
That night, though, Conlan sat in the bath of his room in the Olympic village and tears flowed. He had won Olympic bronze four years earlier in London but this was to be the