George Liddard is aiming to make a significant impact in the middleweight division, a remarkable transition for someone who previously worked as a windscreen fitter before becoming a promising boxing talent.
A devoted West Ham super-fan, Liddard enjoyed a distinguished amateur career, clinching four national titles and securing medals on the international stage.
Despite his amateur success, he decided against pursuing a spot on the Team GB Olympic squad, instead turning professional in 2022 under promoter Eddie Hearn.
This decision came after a brief interruption in his boxing career caused by the coronavirus pandemic, during which Liddard worked for a windscreen fitting company.
Recounting this period to the West Ham website, he said: “I was part of Team England, and then Covid-19 hit, and there was a lot of uncertainty in my life. During that period, I ended up working with my dad at a windscreen company.”
He continued: “I got defeated by a well-known Great Britain fighter in a close fight after the pandemic, and that was the moment I said to myself to give it a go. I got a text from Tony Sims, one of the legendary boxing trainers, asking me to spar with John Ryder. So I went down there and gave a good account of myself. I’ve been at the Matchroom Gym ever since and have never looked back.”
Liddard currently holds an impressive undefeated record of 11-0. He is set to return to the ring this Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena, fighting on the undercard of the rematch between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen.
The 22-year-old East London fighter is scheduled to face Aaron Sutton. However, his aspirations reach far beyond this bout, with his sights firmly set on challenging for the British title and ultimately achieving world championship status.
He expressed his confidence, stating: “I feel as if I’m at a level already where I can win a British title. I know I’m good enough but have to prove it to the world, and the next fight is another opportunity to do that.”
Liddard is clear about his ultimate goal: “I’m in this game to be a world champion, and I want to win world titles down the line. I will be a world champion someday; I know that for sure. I look forward to the day I stand there with a world title belt and say, I made it.”
True to his West Ham roots, Liddard wears the club`s famous claret and blue colours when competing and can often be found supporting the Hammers from the stands when he`s not fighting.
Reflecting on his support for the club, he said: “I couldn’t pinpoint an exact moment when I started supporting West Ham, but I’ve followed the Club all of my life and attend home games now with my sponsor, ABSM Building Services.”
He also shared his experience of missing a major game: “I would have loved to have been at the Conference League final, but I was fighting on that Saturday. I remember watching it in the hotel and being ecstatic when Jarrod [Bowen] scored that goal. I was gutted to have not been there, but I won the fight, so it was a memorable weekend.”
