Troy Williamson will be coming up against a “motivated” Ted Cheeseman when he challenges for the Londoner’s British light-middleweight title in Liverpool.
The two in-form fighters provide the principal support to the Merseyside derby between Liam Smith and Anthony Fowler at the M&S Bank Arena a week on Saturday.
Cheeseman (left) hopes this will be his final British level contest before moving to a higher echelon, though he insists that does not mean he is taking ‘Trojan’ lightly.
“I can’t look past this fight, but I feel like this is the last hurdle for me at this level,” said the ‘Big Cheese’.
“As long as I’m successful on October 9 then I’ll push on, roll the dice and see where I can get to.
“I believe that I have the ability to get him out of there in the 12 rounds.
“Whether it’s points or a stoppage it doesn’t matter, as long as I get the win.
“This is my last hurdle at British level. I’m very motivated for this fight.
“Troy is a good fighter. Obviously he hasn’t had any tests like me. I don’t think he’s had a proper gut check yet, but he’s unbeaten and he doesn’t want to lose his unbeaten record.
“He’s a tough fighter and he can bang a bit. It’s a good test but I believe my experience will count in the end.”
Both champion and challenger possess pretty similar records.
Cheeseman’s log reads 17-2-1 with 10 KO successes, while Williamson’s stats are 16-0-1 with 12 early finishes from the Darlington star.
The 30-year-old set up his challenge in style with a clinical sixth-round stoppage of previously-unbeaten Scottish southpaw Kieran Smith at the end of April.
Cheeseman too goes into the contest with convince high after an 11th-round knockout of the previously undefeated Liverpudlian James Metcalf in Gibraltar earlier this year.
The 26-year-old, from Bermondsey, says he has his “happiness and confidence back” as he looks ahead to the clash which will be shown worldwide on DAZN.
“I know that as long as I perform I should deal with Troy Williamson,” he said. “You always get a test. You either shine or you fail. I hope he fails, but you never know.
“I believe that I’m ready for whatever he brings.
“There isn’t any bad blood between us – we’re both good fighters and we both know what we want to do and where we want to go.
“It’s about giving ourselves the best opportunity of doing that. I’m in unbelievable shape both mentally and physically.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Matt Pover/ Matchroom
