Boxing News at Five: Nick Webb says Joe Joyce “bottled it”, Liam Williams headlines MTK show in Wales

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NICK WEBB isn’t stupid. He knows what he’s doing.

Drafted in as a late-notice pay-per-view hors d’oeuvres, or Happy Meal, Webb’s fight with Dave Allen on Saturday (July 28), an eliminator for the British heavyweight title, has given both men a platform they’d have otherwise been without, and Webb, especially, isn’t going to waste it.

The Chertsey heavyweight, undefeated in 12 pro fights, originally wanted to fight 2016 Olympic silver medallist Joe Joyce this weekend but saw that one evaporate before the idea had even formed.

“Joe has been very vocal in calling out the likes of Jarrell Miller and Bryant Jennings, but he bottled it when he was offered the fight with me,” said Webb. “If you want to be mentioned with the top heavyweights in the division, you can’t be turning down fights against little old me.

“He said that he’ll fight any heavyweight in the world, ‘let alone Nick Webb’, but that clearly isn’t true. Yes, he is in the process of changing trainers, but if he is as good as he tells everyone he is then he should be able to get past me without one in his corner.

“Joe beat me in the amateurs and I’d love an opportunity to get my payback. All my focus is on Dave Allen this Saturday, but when I get through him hopefully me and Joe can get it on in September on the Joshua vs. Povetkin undercard at Wembley. That would be amazing.

“I’ve come a long way since my amateur days and I’d prove that by becoming the first man to beat Joe in his pro career and taking his Commonwealth belt home with me before marching on to the British title.”

Joe Joyce can wait. Scrap that. He’ll have to wait. After all, it’s Dave Allen, not Joe Joyce, who looks to dirty Nick Webb’s undefeated record on Saturday night and Allen, unlike Joyce, is a man with one foot out the door. Set to retire, win, lose or draw, Allen’s carefree approach to his last dance could, ironically, make him a dangerous proposition – particularly for someone looking too far ahead.

Joe Joyce


Liam Williams, the former British, Commonwealth and European super-welterweight champion, will headline an MTK Global event in Cardiff on September 7, it has been announced.

The show will be MTK Global’s first foray into Williams’ homeland and it will also be Williams’ first under the guidance of new trainer Dominic Ingle.

“It’s great news,” said Williams, 17-2-1 (12). “It’s so exciting for me and I’ve been itching to announce this fight for some time.

“I’ve been telling people news was coming soon for a while now and I’m just so happy to be back home. It gives my fans who sometimes can’t be there the chance to come and watch me fight.

“It’s an exciting time for me personally with my new team. I’ve now signed with MTK Global and have a new trainer in Dominic Ingle, so you’ll be seeing some improvements on the night.”

It remains to be seen what kind of opponent they deliver for Williams, but considering the fact his last opponent, Darryl Sharp, possessed a 5-32 pro record, don’t go expecting a top 10 contender. Instead, what’s likely to happen is Williams, still only 26, tunes up against another trial horse type, one hopefully more ambitious than Sharp, and then perhaps fights unbeaten Liverpudlian JJ Metcalf, 18-0 (10), later in the year.

That’s certainly the plan according to Williams.

“I’m hopeful of fighting JJ Metcalf after this one,” he said. “It’s one I want this year. Ideally, I’d fight for a world title straight away, but I know that’s not the way things happen.

“The plan is hopefully to get a good win on September 7 and then I’m certain I’ll beat JJ Metcalf when I get the chance. Then, in 2019, who knows… you could see me fight for a world title.”

Liam Williams

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