George Liddard vs Dario Morello

This is a real test for George Liddard, not another carefully chosen upgrade opponent. On 22 August at York Hall, the unbeaten British and Commonwealth champion meets Italy’s Dario Morello for the vacant European middleweight title. Liddard is only 24, but he has already reached the stage where the Instagram clips and promotional chat count for nothing. Morello has boxed 189 professional rounds, so this is business against a seasoned operator who knows how to make a young fighter think.

Liddard comes in at 14-0 with eight stoppages. He is an athletic orthodox boxer with quick hands, a solid engine and the confidence to work in combinations once he has established his range. His tenth-round stoppage of Kieron Conway was his breakthrough, but Tyler Denny gave him a much more awkward night in March. Denny crowded him, worked during the clinches and showed that Liddard can become a bit too upright when an opponent refuses to behave. Liddard still won 116-112 on all three cards, but it was a proper gut-check rather than a procession.

Morello is 26-1, although only four of those victories have come inside the distance. That tells you what he is about. He is not coming to knock Liddard’s block off with one swing; he wants to control the pace, nick the exchanges and make the younger man grow impatient. He is the same listed height as Liddard at 5ft 10in, boxes orthodox and has put together ten consecutive wins since his only defeat. He is experienced, economical and unlikely to fall apart when the crowd starts roaring.

The key here is Liddard’s jab and body work. He must not follow Morello around. He needs to step across, shut off the exits and punch beneath the elbows before bringing the right hand upstairs. His weakness is that he can admire his combinations and allow opponents to return fire. Morello’s advantage is patience, but his lack of punch power means he may struggle to earn Liddard’s respect when the younger man starts walking him down.

I expect Morello to make the early rounds fiddly and frustrating, but Liddard’s youth, work rate and heavier hands should take over after halfway. The Italian will hear the final bell because he knows the business and has never been stopped.

Prediction: Liddard to win by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.