Davies: I need to do a number on Jason

Liam Davies…defends his belts on Saturday night

LIAM Davies, the Telford sensation only days away from the most important night of his career, said with steely determination: “I need to do a number on Jason Cunningham.”

On Saturday, before his legion of adoring fans at Telford International Centre, the super-bantam puts his European and British belts on the line against the wiry, tough and experienced Doncaster southpaw.

For Cunningham, it’s a chance to reclaim the belts he once owned. For the 33-year-old it’s the chance to renew his march towards world honours after suffering a shattering loss to thunderous punching South African Zolani Tete last year.

At his peak, Cunningham was good enough to drop Gamal Yafai three times and take his European title by way of a very clear points decision.

At his peak, Cunningham was good enough to hand Brad Foster, dubbed the wonderkid of British boxing, his first loss.

There are those who believe the northerner has reached his peak and is now gazing at the slope on the other side of boxing’s mountain. They’ve dubbed the 12 rounder a case of rising star against shopworn, 39 fight veteran.

That’s unfair. One loss, no matter how conclusive, does not destroy a boxer overnight.

Cunningham, who eased back with a March points win, will burn to prove the critics wrong.

Davies, at 27, is, without doubt, on top of his game and, he insists, has yet to hit his peak.

He has shone in his 13 pro bouts and looked something very special in dominating Marc Leach for the Lonsdale Belt and dangerous Romanian Ionut Baluta for European honours.

Every win edges him closer to a world title shot.

But, then, Davies – a former fine amateur – was born to box. Dad Tristan had 100 amateur bouts, represented Wales and reached an ABA final before embarking on a brief pro career.

Grandad Brian was at the helm of Donnington Ex-Servicemen’s ABC, which produced a stream of unpaid champs.

“I need to do a number on Cunningham,” Davies repeated. “He is a good, European level fighter, but I don’t think he will become a world champion.

“I need to do a number on him to prove I’ve got what it takes to become a world champion.”

From humble beginnings, Davies has gained sporting hero status in his home suburb of Donnington and beyond.

Cunningham will, on Saturday night, be hit by a wall of sound, built by Davies’ supporters, then hit by Davies.

“Everything’s gone good,” Davies said. “I’ve hit all the targets, I’ve beaten all the targets. I’m excited and I’ve trained to give the best performance of my career.

“I hope he’s at his best because I’ve trained for the best.”

There have been rumours of needle between the pair, but Davies is keen to play down claims of bad blood.

“Things have been said, but worse things have been said in boxing,” he told me. “We’re a few days away from dealing with everything that has been said, then we’ll shake hands. I don’t fight my friends.”

World title chances are being whispered, but Davies refuses to become distracted.

“I just need to focus,” he stressed. “I don’t think much about when it will come or who it will come against. Things can easily change if you take your eye off the ball. I’ll wait my opportunity.”

As press officer for Donnington Ex-Servicemen’s ABC, I remember Davies – a bundle of energy – taking his first steps in the tough gym. He is now boxing king of Europe.

“I’ve come a huge way,” he acknowledged. “I remember my grandad telling me, ‘you are going to be this, that and the other’.

“At the time you think, is he just saying it? Now I realise he did see something.”

And Davies issued a warning to his opponent this weekend: “I feel I’m getting better and better, there’s plenty more to come.”

The champ’s confident those improvements will be showcased against Cunningham.