Tristan: Cunningham is in for real trouble

Liam Davies…puts his belts on the line against Jason Cunninghan

TRISTAN Davies, father and trainer of super-bantam king Liam, has a simple message for next opponent Jason Cunningham as the clock ticks towards the mouth-watering multi-title Telford showdown.

Neither he or Liam underestimate what rugged Cunningham brings to the table. But, during an interview at Sunday’s Midlands boxing awards in Cannock, former pro Tristan warned: “He’s in trouble, the lad.”

Liam puts his British and European belts on the line against southpaw Cunningham in front of his huge home following at Telford International Centre on July 29.

There are a couple of international belts up for grabs, too.

At 27 and with an unblemished 13 fight career, Liam appears to have the fight world at his feet.

In Doncaster’s Cunningham he meets a tough customer who has faced the domestic division’s best and pulled of a string of upsets. In 2021, he outpointed rugged Gamal Yafai for the European title, then added the British and Commonwealth belts to his collection by beating Brad Foster.

But the 33-year-old, who has lost seven of 39, was brought back to earth last July when heavy hitting South African Zolani Tete KOd him in four.

Jason has had one outing since that disaster, outpointing Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez over 10. Liam Davies represents a ticket back to the big time.

“Liam’s served his apprenticeship against southpaws, he loves southpaws,” said Tristan, a former international amateur who took part in 100 unpaid contests. Cunningham likes to fight long, but Liam fights long.

“Liam’s getting better every time and there’s a good five or six years ahead for him. The weight is bang on, the training’s been superb. People forget Liam was a bantam a couple of years ago and he made that comfortably.

“Cunningham was knocked out and I thought he looked wary in his last fight. He beat Brad Foster – Liam beats Brad Foster. Gamal Yafai was just trying to knock him out, do a better job than his brother did (Kal Yafai outpointed Cunningham in a British super-flyweight title fight close to eight years ago).

“Liam knows what he wants, the nice house, the nice car – then comes the fancy stuff.”

And if the Telford hero beats Cunningham, a world title fight is within touching distance. Davies has, to date, made all his professional dreams a reality.

You wouldn’t bank against him realising the biggest dream of them all.