It is Monday lunchtime of fight week and Liam Davies is on his way to record a head-to-head interview with Shabaz Masoud, the man he defends his IBO junior featherweight title against on Saturday night.
Some fighters would balk at the idea of filming on a Monday and making a long fight week even longer.
Davies, 16-0 (8 KOs), isn’t most fighters. He woke up in fight mode. Rather than worrying about burning energy or changing his routine, the 28-year-old’s major concern was probably collecting a speeding ticket on his way to the studio.
His rivalry with Masoud started years ago and this will be the third time they have met in the ring; Masoud won both of their amateur contests.
They were initially due to meet as professionals in July, but Davies was forced to withdraw after picking up a virus. Masoud stayed on the card and Davies got involved in a row with his friends and supporters after turning up to watch.
Davies has been waiting for this week.
“I’m on the way there now and he’s going to find out because the closer we get, the more real it gets,” Davies told BoxingScene.
“He’s going to need them [his friends and supporters] this week because, as I said, things get real, and things don’t become so nice. He’s going to look at my eyes today and he’s going to see I’m ready to go and he can talk himself into it as much as he wants.
“He beat me as an amateur. As an amateur, I was doing things that I wouldn’t even speak about because they’re embarrassing, but I wasn’t doing the shit that I was now.
“It’s a big difference and I hope he does take confidence from it.”
The unbeaten Masoud, 13-0 (4 KOs), may have had Davies’ number when they were amateurs but the talented 28-year-old faces a stiff test this weekend.
Davies is a totally different animal these days and although he has made his name with a series of spectacular early finishes, he has proven himself to be much more than just a one-trick pony.
His run started back in June 2022 when he outboxed the tricky Marc Leach to win the British title. He then outclassed the dangerous Ionut Baluta to win the European belt and blew away the respected Jason Cunningham inside a round. He has continued to rise. Last November he won a fire fight with Vincenzo La Femina and, in his only appearance this year, demolished the dangerous Mexican, Erik Robles, inside two to win the IBO belt.
Davies carries himself with the air and confidence of a champion and is comfortable carrying the tag of favorite this weekend. As fight night gets closer, he believes that the scale of the task will begin to take its toll on Masoud and Monday’s head-to-head gave him the ideal early opportunity to remind him of what he can expect.
“I’m real. As real as you can get. I’m ready to go,” he said. “I don’t care what anyone says, you always have a day or two where you watch the fights. You watch your opponent. I do personally and I don’t get why anyone wouldn’t. He’s going to watch my fights and deep down in his heart, he’s going to know that he’s up against it.
“He’s struggled once or twice. No one’s ever seen me struggle in my professional career. I think they’re relying on the weight and on me struggling for the weight and, unfortunately for him, it’s the best I’ve made it.”
Some fighters can’t avoid letting a bit of pre-fight hostility affect them. Others try to actively avoid it. Davies likes to feel the bad blood course through his veins. The ongoing rivalry with Masoud is partly feeding his fire but Davies enjoys being able to get his teeth into a fight regardless of any personal feelings. If there isn’t an obvious source of motivation or conflict, the usually amiable and funny Davies is an expert at finding something.
Yes, he wants to beat Shabaz and bring a conclusive end to their rivalry, but this weekend’s fight means more to him than that. Davies came from nothing and carries the belief that he has had to work harder and put up with more than his rivals. He doesn’t need to build himself into a different person as fight week gets closer, he just lets his alter ego come out to play.
“I come across a nice guy but people get it twisted, man. I ain’t bothered by any man, do you know what I mean? I’m from Donington, I fucking grew up around violence all my life,” he said.
“It’s nothing new to me and I try and be the best person I can but I can be a nasty fucker and, yeah, I love it, it’s brought the best out in me. It genuinely has brought the best out in me with no ounce of fear whatsoever. None at all.
“It’s the fight game. I turn up to hurt these boys. With no mercy. I don’t lose no sleep over hurting anyone.”
Davies has set an example that every young professional should follow.
He started boxing on the smallest of small hall shows but has taken every opportunity presented to him with both hands. Davies became a staple of Queensberry’s popular Magnificent Seven bills but although he was always part of an ensemble cast he never allowed himself to fade into the background. He now finds himself established in the world top 10 and the man most likely to graduate from domestic shows to the massive cards taking place in Saudi Arabia.
A few weeks ago, Queensberry staged a press conference to promote the fight with Masoud and, for the first time, Davies got the feeling that the whole event had been designed around him.
If he can beat Shabaz in the manner he is planning, the remainder of his career should take place on center stage.
“Yeah of course. I’m slowly opening the door. I’ve got my foot in the door now and to change my life and my family’s life for good and leave my mark in the sport, nights like Saturday night is where I have to do it,” he said.
“Honestly, I swear to God I’m so fucking ready, man. So ready. And after there will be someone else that’s supposed to beat me or whatever, but I couldn’t care, bring them on, honestly, I’m on a mission.
“It’s getting to the point now where no one can deny me anymore and I feel like I’ve still been hard done by now. Not hard done by but I’ve missed out and maybe if I’d not got ill and fought [on the original date] I might have been on the Saudi card in December, but everything happens for a reason and on Saturday night I’m gonna do the business and I’m gonna carry on for a push for another big 2025.”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79