Liam Conroy was the pride of Barrow-in-Furness and Cumberland before he stepped into the ring at the Copper Box Arena.
And the pride in Cumbria’s great fighting son is even stronger the morning after, despite his third-round defeat to the excellent Joshua Buatsi in their battle for the vacant British light-heavyweight title.
Brave Conroy was felled twice by the 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalist and each time he climbed back off the canvas but after the second occasion, referee Phil Edwards called it off at one minute, 53 seconds.
Conroy had earned his shot at the Lonsdale Belt having climbed the ladder with success at Northern Area and English title level.
However, he became the eighth man to be stopped by the Londoner and he won’t be the last.
Buatsi is something special and he can hit extremely hard, but Conroy performed with credit, hitting the unbeaten star back, something Joshua is not always accustomed to.
Liam, who works for BAE Systems by day and trains in Preston at night, looked composed in the opener, making Buatsi miss with some big shots.
Buatsi landed a volley of punches in round two but Conroy simply smiled it off and when he connected with a right in the red corner in the third, things looked promising for the MTK fighter.
However, the 25-year-old was put down by an excellent right-left from Buatsi but Conroy got up and was allowed to continue by Mr Edwards.
Alas, a huge right sent Liam to the canvas again and while he did well to get up by eight, the Preston referee this time decided to call a halt. Conroy, smiling, said “no” but it looked the correct call.
This tilt at glory may have ended in his first championship defeat, but with Buatsi seemingly destined for world honours, Conroy will surely get another crack at the British title.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
