By Elliot Foster
Liam Williams kept hold of his belts in what was an ill-tempered affair.
The Clydach Vale super-welterweight retained his British and Commonwealth crowns at the Ice Arena in Cardiff.
Williams, who remains unbeaten, was the man who came out on top against Wembley’s Gary Corcoran, exclusively live on BoxNation, stopping the previously undefeated WBO Inter-Continental champion in the 11th of 12 scheduled rounds.
The fight got off to a good start, with Williams –– who moves to 15-0-1 (10 KOs) –– dictating proceedings behind a beautifully thrown jab, but the red mist descended not long after as a clash of heads caused a significant cut to the left eye of the now-defeated Corcoran (15-1, 6 KOs).
The mid-rounds of the fight were scrappy and neither man really came out covered in glory, but as tempers flared the referee Terry O’Connor had plenty to do.
As the halfway point came and went, Williams took over, using his superior jab, footwork and technique to nick the rounds against the solid Corcoran.
And as he went out in the final quarter of the showdown to try to swing the pendulum back in his favour, Corcoran had his worst period of the fight and it was ultimately his unwinding as Williams, who, it’s hard to believe, is still just 24, picked him apart and dropped him before the referee jumped in to save him from further punishment after a big shot.
It is unclear whether a highly sought-after rematch, which promoter Frank Warren wants to make, would take place this year as both had bumps and scrapes but don’t be surprised to see this one again sometime soon.
