Promising Welsh boxer Liam Williams fought hard to retain his British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles in Cardiff last night.
The 24-year-old, a former stable-mate of Nick Blackwell before the Englishman was forced to retire from boxing, took until the 11th round to stop Gary Corcoran in a close-run battle.
Corcoran had won all 15 of his fights leading up to the bout, but Williams eventually got the job done with a decisive right hand.
Williams, who has held the Commonwealth belt since November 2014, thanked his fans after a display he described as ‘not the greatest’.
Huge thanks to everyone who came to support me last night. Weren't the greatest display but got the job done and we move on! #TeamWilliams
— Liam Williams 🏴 (@Liamwilliamsko) July 17, 2016
The win extends Williams’ career record to 15-0-1 with 10 knockouts, and was his first time fighting in Wales since appearing on the undercard when compatriot Nathan Cleverly lost his light-heavyweight title bout to Sergey Kovalev in 2013.
After the victory, he was congratulated by the watching Blackwell, who hung up his gloves after being placed in an induced coma following his unsuccessful British middleweight title defence against Chris Eubank Jr earlier this year.
Williams wasn’t the only man trained by Gary Lockett to earn a win, with Dale Evans, Jay Harris and Alex Hughes all enjoying successful nights.
Elsewhere on the card, Terry Flanagan launched a successful WBO world lightweight title defence against South Africa’s Mzonke Fana.
What a night!! Big love too all the boys last night @alexhughes38 @jayharris19 @DaleEvans_912 and @LiamdullW #WelshTalent #GoingPlaces
— NICK BLACKWELL (@nickblackwell02) July 17, 2016
