Davies: I’ll always be a Donnington lad

CELEBRITY status hangs uncomfortably from the shoulders of Liam Davies, the Donnington, Telford, lad done good. Very good.

“People stop and ask for my picture,” the 27-year-old from a famed fighting family told me. “It’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t really understand it. People ask for my autograph and I find it more mad.”

In return for their support, Davies has backed a number of local worthy causes. “I’m in a position where I can do it now and it’s a good feeling,” he said. “I’m a Donnington lad, always will be, and this is where I feel happiest.”

Davies treasures the fact he’s one of them. He pledges he always will be.

But the struggled to stay one of them – salt of the earth, those fight fanatics who crowded into Donnington Ex-Servicemen’s Club to watch the amateur cards young Liam was a part of – must become harder as the super-bantam surges towards stardom.

On November 18, Davies edges nearer a world title fight when he puts his European title on the line against unbeaten Vincenzo La Femina at Manchester Arena. La Famina has won seven of his 13 fights by stoppage, but fought outside Italy only once.

“I’d like it to go a good few rounds, seven or eight,” said Liam, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t go four, maybe even earlier than that.

“The camp’s good, my weight’s good, I’m in a good place.”

Things change suddenly in boxing, more suddenly than most sports. A top premiership football team can lose a league match and still be on course for the title.

A boxing champion can lose a match and be back to square one. That’s the tightrope Liam and his father and trainer Tristan walk.

They have proved a winning team – and both are straight-down-the-line, giving their honest opinions regardless of who is listening, who is going to be upset by their comments.

“It’s the Davies way,” said Liam.

It is. His grandfather Brian, founder of the multi-titled ex-servicemen’s club, had a razor-sharp sense of humour, but bluffers and pretenders got very short shrift. I admired the man’s “never back down” approach to life.

In just over two weeks time, Liam, unbeaten in 14 bouts, puts his European title on the line. After that, the world beckons.

“It’s looming,” he warned.

Donnington may next year raise a glass to a world champion – and what a party that’s going to be!