Liam Conroy “loves” the lion’s den, which is just as well because he is heading there for ANOTHER title fight.
The busy Barrow boy is to challenge for the vacant WBO European title in Belfast, on Saturday June 21, against unbeaten Norther Ireland fighter, Steven Ward.
It is only seven weeks ago since Conroy made a brave bid to become British champion, only to run into the brutal finishing power of Joshua Buatsi in London.
But Conroy is on the road again in an exciting all-MTK summer shoot-out at the famous Ulster Hall.
Ward, from Newtonabbey in Antrim, has amassed an impressive record of 11-0 to date, with four stoppages along the way, the most recent being a fifth-round retirement last month of Abdula Arabie at the York Hall.
The 29-year-old’s best win to date was an eight-round points win over Steve Collins Jr for the Boxing Union of Ireland’s vacant Celtic light-heavyweight belt last year a Windsor Park on the undercard of Frank Warren’s Carl Frampton/ Tyson Fury/ Paddy Barnes event.
This is therefore a big night for Ward but so too for Conroy who now has a very good chance of getting straight back on the title ladder.
Liam returned to the ring in devastating fashion on Saturday night on MTK’s promotion in Brentwood, which was broadcast live by iFL TV.
Up against the veteran Elvis Dude, the 26-year-old wasted little time in bringing the six-round contest to an early conclusion.
The pride of Cumbria decked Elvis three times inside the space of 30 seconds in Essex.
Dude was up quickly after being floored by a fierce right to the had but a barrage of 10 body and head shots soon sent him back to the canvas.
Referee Lee Cook allowed it to go on but when a body combination and right to the head put Elvis down again, he did not even begin a count, ending matters at one minute, 31 seconds of round two.
“A massive thank you for the support last night,” Conroy told his fans on social media. “It was an important fight to work on the things I needed to improve on after the last fight and get some more ring-time.
“As you can see I’m not even home yet and my next fight has been announced which is a huge one.
“We will be challenging for the WBO European title and I’m doing it in the lion’s den again.
“I love the lions den.”
Ward is a man on the up, but so too is Conroy – aside from the Buatsi defeat, his last six wins have all been inside the distance, including four in title contests. The BAE Systems worker will not fear a June 21 visit to the Northern Ireland capital.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
