Liam Wilson had his moments vs. Emanuel Navarrete. (Picture by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc through Getty Pictures)
Liam Wilson is viewing his subsequent struggle in opposition to Youssef Dib as an audition to face former Ring Journal light-weight champion George Kambosos Jr.
The 28-year-old from Caboolture in Queensland will step as much as the 135-pound division when he takes on Dib on the WIN Leisure Centre in Wollongong, New South Wales on July 10 in the primary help bout to the junior featherweight struggle between Sam Goodman and Chainoi Worawut.
Wilson (13-3, 7 KOs) is seeking to discover his ft in a brand new weight class after falling brief in his final bout in opposition to Oscar Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) in Glendale, Arizona in March. The in any other case aggressive struggle was blown vast open within the seventh spherical when Mexico’s Valdez landed a left hook to the jaw that damage Wilson, who tried to brawl his means out of hassle.
It was a courageous transfer that made for thrilling TV, however in the end led to a loss for Wilson, who was stopped on his ft by referee Mark Nelson at 2:48 mark after absorbing an amazing quantity of punishment.
Again house in Australia, Wilson has been licking his wounds and retooling within the gymnasium.
“I’ve had to return to the drafting board and repair up a number of flaws I’ve made in my fights,” Wilson stated at Wednesday’s press convention to formally announce the No Restrict present.
“I’m able now that I’m all to acquainted with, sadly. I’m down in the back of the pecking order and I’ve to rebuild myself again up, present everybody what I’m manufactured from and get myself a shot at one other world title.”
Wilson got here inside a whisker of defeating Emanuel Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) for the vacant WBO junior light-weight title in February final yr, detonating a left hook on Mexican’s jaw that put him on Queer Avenue earlier than bludgeoning him to the canvas within the fourth spherical in Glendale, Arizona.
However in a veteran transfer, Navarrete spit out his mouthpiece, shopping for himself treasured time to recuperate. He would go on to show the tables on Wilson, dropping him and stopping him within the ninth.
It was the one which received away.
“I’m excited for this struggle as a result of I’ve had two world title pictures, very shut fights for me, I felt like these fights fell by way of my finger ideas,” stated Wilson. “Now I’m again to sq. one. I’m out to show to everybody that I’m able to profitable a world title and this man is stepping in entrance of me.
“I’m developing in weight, it’s going to be a troublesome struggle, however I’m prepared, I’m excited. Let’s do it.”
The 31-year-old Dib (21-1, 11 KOs) of Sydney is a stable sufficient problem for the rebuilding Wilson. The youthful brother of former IBF featherweight titleholder Billy Dib is a essentially sound boxer who has proven a very good chin up to now, whereas missing the type of energy Wilson would have to be cautious of.
“There’s a number of pleasure on this struggle as a result of I do know his household has an enormous title in Australian boxing. Billy Dib, Billel Dib and Youssef himself,” stated Wilson. “So, I’ve received a number of pleasure with it and I’m seeking to placed on a very good struggle, a very good efficiency, and to come back away with a pleasant decisive win.”
The actual prize in Wilson’s eyes isn’t a victory over Dib, however a possible showdown with home rival Kambosos (21-3, 10 KOs). The 30-year-old Sydneysider was knocked out within the eleventh spherical by Ukrainian southpaw Vasiliy Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) in Perth, Western Australia on Might 12 and an all-Aussie blockbuster could possibly be simply what the physician ordered when he is able to get again within the ring.
It’s a struggle that Wilson is actually down for.
“As a workforce, it’s going to be an experiment,” Wilson stated of shifting up in weight. “As an novice, I used to struggle at welterweight. The load I’m preventing as now, I haven’t been that weight since I used to be 15, 16 years previous. Going as much as light-weight, we’ll see. If I’m feeling match and powerful, good and wholesome, I’ll keep there.
“I do know George Kambosos is at that weight. If all goes effectively, I’d prefer to go for that type of struggle, if it will probably occur. I don’t know what his plans are, however yeah.
“Going by way of this camp I’ve seen it as a ultimate eliminator for George Kambosos. I stated I’d transfer as much as light-weight for George Kambosos and that’s it. However right here I’m in opposition to Youssef Dib and funnily sufficient, Youssef Dib has known as out George Kambosos a number of occasions too.
“I’m doing this camp purely as a result of we each wish to struggle George Kambosos.
“I hear folks again house, the common, on a regular basis individual, they at all times ask me: ‘When are you preventing George Kambosos? When are you going to repair him up and knock him out?’
“I’m like, ‘Hear, I’ll do you the favor, alright?’
“Hopefully we are able to get it occurring.”
