The better the opponent, the better version of Troy Williamson you’ll see.
Those are the words of the British light-middleweight championship challenger ahead of his eagerly-awaited domestic scrap with title holder Ted Cheeseman in Liverpool this Saturday.
It’s a huge challenge for Williamson as he attempts to become Darlington’s first holder of the Lonsdale Belt for a decade.
However, ‘Trojan’ does not lack skill, heart or confidence as he tackles the Londoner on the Matchroom event at the M&S Bank Arena where the all-Merseyside war between Liam Smith and Anthony Fowler.
“You’re going to see the best of me on Saturday,” said the undefeated 30-year-old.
“The better the opponent, the better version of Troy Williamson you’ll see.
“Ted Cheeseman is the biggest fight of my career and he’s probably the best fighter I’ve boxed in my career. It’s going to be a cracker, there’s going to be fireworks.”
Fireworks? You would not rule it out – the ‘Big Cheese’ and ‘Trojan’ rarely participate in bad fights, Ted winning the British title with an 11th-round stoppage of James Metcalf in Gibraltar in March, while Troy knocked out Kieran Smith in the confrontation of the unbeaten light-middles in their eliminator in London in April.
Williamson rarely requires the scorecards of the referees and judges.
“I carry power in both hands,” said Troy, who has completed 12 of his 16 victories.
“If I hit anyone on the chin at 11st in 10oz gloves I’m going to hurt them. If the stoppage comes it comes.
“We both like to have a tear up, we’re both fit and both very tough. I’m not one to backdown from a fight.
“When the big fights come I’ll always take them and so will Ted.
“This Saturday we’re getting down to business.
“Ted is a great two-time British champion – that says it all.
“He’s the number one fighter in the division, you can’t deny that.
“I just know what I possess and what I’m going to bring on the night. I’ll be going home with the British title.”
Should Williamson triumph on a show televised by DAZN, he’ll be Darlington’s first champion since Stuart Hall held the British bantamweight crown in 2011.
It’s an occasion which inspires the boxer who is managed by MTK and promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry.
“I’ve been saying for years that I deserve the chance to be involved in these big fights,” said the Craig Carney-trained boxer.
“I’ve told everyone that I’m good enough and this is my chance to prove it. I believe that I’m the best 154lbs fighter in the division.
“I’ve been offered some big fights in the past and I’ve accepted them all. It’s just unfortunate that some of them never happened for whatever reason.
“As soon as the Ted Cheeseman fight got mentioned I accepted it because he’s a warrior.”
The Londoner is indeed a warrior and worthy champion, whose fight log reads 17-2-1, with 10 wins early.
Williamson has perhaps not enjoyed the same profile of contest but he feels he has served his apprenticeship.
“We’ve had a similar number of fights,” said Troy. “I think he’s had one or two more fights than me.
“I’ve not had it the easy way. I’ve had it tough when I had to sell tickets myself on these small hall shows.
“I’ve not had no bums just to knock over. I’ve come through the hard way and it will show on the night that experience won’t matter.”
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Matt Povey/ Matchroom
