Liddard Is Youngest British Middleweight Champ

History was on the line in the main event at York Hall with George Liddard looking to become the youngest British champion in history as he challenged the reigning British and Commonwealth belt holder Kieron Conway. The 23-year-old Liddard controlled the bout from the outset with his jab and speed. Conway’s nose was flowing blood by the fourth. Conway may have taken the sixth as he finally started to pick up the pace and tried to match Liddard’s output, but in that round Conway also started bleeding from a cut on his right cheekbone just under the eye.

Suddenly in the ninth, Conway was hit with a routine right-left that didn’t seem particularly powerful, yet he backed up to the ropes, crouching on the lower strand and appearing to hold his left hand as if it was injured. Liddard pounced on the opportunity trying to land follow-up blows with Conway hopping around in a squat position. The referee finally intervened and issued a mandatory eight count, as he ruled Conway down due to the ropes holding him up. He managed to survive the round. After another exchange in the 10th round, Conway seemed to be favoring his left hand again.

Moments later, his corner threw in the towel, giving Liddard the stoppage victory that he predicted, the first opponent to do such against Conway. Referee Mark Bates waved it off at 0:49 of the tenth, making Liddard the youngest British middleweight champion, along with Commonwealth champion. He improves the 13-0, 8 KOs. Conway falls to 24-4, 7 KOs. Conway admitted the left hand for injured when he landed it awkwardly in the ninth.

In the co-main event, Shannon Ryan came away with the vacant IBF Inter-continental super flyweight title after her bout with Chloe Watson was halted on the advice of the ring physician. Watson’s right eye swelled shut after an accidental clash of heads in the third, also worsened by repeated left jabs from Ryan. Since four rounds were completed, the decision went to the scorecards which saw Ryan ahead 40-36 on all three judges cards. Ryan improves to 10-1, 1 KO. The unfortunate Watson falls to 8-2.

Jimmy Sains gained the English middleweight title when Troy Coleman didn’t come off his stool for the fifth round. Sains was a juggernaut, battering Coleman from pillar to post over four rounds. Sains moved to 11-0, 10 KOs, while Coleman falls to 14-4, 6 KOs.

Bantamweight Tiah Mai Ayton plowed through Argentinian Laura Belen Valdebenito, dropping her once in the second and again in the fourth. Referee Sean McAvoy waved off the action despite Valdebenito beating the count, at 1:59 of the 4th. Ayton remains perfect at 3-0, 3 KOs. Valdebenito falls to 8-7-1, 2 KOs.

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