Liam Wilson will be out to show the World that he is a bona fide Super Featherweight contender on July 7 - Photo: liamjwilson22 on Intsagram
Rising Super Featherweight prospect Liam Wilson (9-0, 6 KOs) will enter the ring on July 7 with everything to fight for. At just 25 years of age, he has already answered the self-imposed questions about why he competes.
Some fighters are not as lucky, going their entire career without finding their reason. They bounce from bout to bout with no real sense of motivation.
Fortunately for Wilson, he has a number of factors driving him towards greatness in the sport. A determination to achieve such glory was born in his time as a decorated amateur and has stayed with him as he journeys into the professional ranks.
In fact, his aspirations have been so prominent that they have morphed into what can be more accurately described as destiny.
“I wasn’t going to be a plumber or an engineer. I knew I was going to be a fighter,” Wilson told The Inner Sanctum.
“The pressure is on me, but it’s in a good way. It’s the pressure I want and the pressure to be the best. That’s honestly how I feel. It is pressure, but it’s pressure I do believe I need as an athlete to become the best.
“I want to be the next World champion from Australia.”
Tied into this is a strong commitment to family. At age 15, Wilson made a promise to his dying father to win a World title, a vow that spurs him on each day.
Now a young father himself, he is incredibly aware of the bond forged between parent and child, and how his actions can influence it.
“I couldn’t bear the thought if I let down that promise and what I promised I have to do,” he candidly said.
“I feel like he’s right beside me all the time, just cannot let him down.
“Since then, my kids have come along and that’s added motivation. I absolutely love fighting and the drive my kids give.
“When I hop in the ring, I have my dad on one side and my kids on the other, on my shoulders. I just feel like that’s the hardest corner in the World to beat and no man can beat me.”
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Wilson will get an opportunity to take a monumental step towards realising these dreams when he meets Filipino Joe Noynay on the Tszyu vs Spark undercard in Newcastle on Wednesday.
The bout, scheduled for 10 rounds, will be contested for the WBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight title. More importantly, it is a chance for the rising star to impress on boxing’s governing bodies.
Leading into their meeting, Noynay is World ranked by three of these organisations and sits as high as seven with the WBO. Without question, it will be a giant level up in competition against an elite opponent.
Wilson is embracing the test, though.
“He’s very, very classy. Probably the best technical boxer I will have fought in the professional ranks and I’m excited for that,” he said.
“I feel like the last three fights have been against sluggers, brawlers and it’s been pretty hard to showcase my skill how I’ve wanted.
“I’ve had to adapt to their style and that’s okay, because that’s boxing.
“This fight, I think it’s going to be very much a chess match and who can capitalise the most on opportunity.
“I feel like I’ll be able to show my ring craft, ring intelligence and show the Australian public that I am the best Super Featherweight in Australia.”
Preparation for the bout has been partly interrupted, however. After COVID restrictions were implemented in the Brisbane area, Wilson and his team were forced to make a mad dash across the border to Newcastle.
While these are not the perfect circumstances with a week remaining in training camp, adaptions were made to fulfil his sparring needs.
“In this case, we’re down here a week earlier than what we usually would be. So it’s kind of like what we usually do back home we’re doing down here,” Wilson said.
“We’re still finishing off our camp so we had to find a last spar to do down here.
“We were very thankful. They’re very crafty too, Blake Minto, Tyson Lantry and Ethan Hamidd.
“It was perfect. It was a big help for my camp that we didn’t have. My last spar down and a very crucial one being so close to my fight.”
The setting may have changed to round out training, but the journey remains a constant. With each step taken, Wilson believes he is closer to the desired fate.
“I’ve done the hard yards, put in a good camp. Me and my trainer have put in the work. I’m feeling very sharp at this point in time, so I just have to implement that on fight night,” he concluded.
“I always fight with a lot of pride and integrity, so I’m going to bring that and can only expect good things from it.
“I’m coming to fight. I’m really coming to take what’s mine and that’s the win. One step closer to the promise I made to my dad and that’s becoming World champion.”
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