Conway (23-3, 7 KOs) will put his titles on the line against undefeated George Liddard in the main event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, and he’s seen up close the confidence exuded by the 23-year-old challenger ahead of their title clash on Friday night.
The 27-year-old champion has listened to what his opposite number has been saying, and has taken it as a personal insult, and plans to use that as fuel for a big performance as he bids to retain his titles.
“Yeah, because I think that he’s been disrespectful,” he told IFL TV.
“I think that he’s come around here with a young man’s attitude. I think he’s been fed a load of lies and misinformation. He’s nowhere near some of the guys that I’ve been in the ring with.
“He thinks he’s better than even the likes of Ted Cheeseman, Ammo Williams, (Souleymane) Cissokho, Olympian, even James Metcalf, who went on to win a world title. He’s given these guys no respect whatsoever.”
Conway has steadily climbed the ranks at 160 pounds, capturing the vacant Commonwealth title with a split-decision victory over Ryan Kelly last November, then retaining his belt and adding the British title to his collection with a fourth-round TKO stoppage of Gerome Warburton at the Copper Box in May this year.
Now he’s set to put both belts on the line against Liddard, who arrives in London with a perfect 12-0 record, and a tonne of confidence. But Conway plans on slowing the 23-year-old’s rise by handing him his first defeat and retaining his belts in the bout, which streams live on DAZN on Friday night.
“I see his way of doing things, so I kind of respect it, as well. But it pisses me off that he’s coming here telling me he’s gonna knock me out,” he admitted.
“I’ve got a family. I’m a dad. You’re gonna come here and tell me that? I think other dads may understand what I’m saying here. It’s a personal attack, and I see it that way.”
Conway is focused on delivering a statement performance on Friday night, and sees victory as a chance to propel himself onto the world stage, and hinted at a potential move up to super middleweight.
“I expect to win this and go on to bigger things,” he stated.
“I want big names, potentially big titles. I don’t know actually what’s available. I stay focused on what’s in front of me.
“I never, ever look past (opponents) so I don’t actually know what the potential is. (I’ll) maybe even look at another weight, potentially. But I don’t think about it too much. It’ll just be nice and easy to make the next weight.”
For now, though, he has the clear and present danger of a confident, undefeated challenger to deal with at York Hall, and Conway predicts it’ll be an exciting clash when he trades leather with Liddard on Friday night.
“He’s coming here young (and) hungry. He’s going to bring it, and it probably will make for a very, very good fight.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L449TtO7ITA
