George Liddard is ready to put on a hair-raising performance in East London this Saturday when he challenges Dario Morello for the EBU European Middleweight Title – live worldwide on DAZN.

The ‘Billericay Bomber’ takes on the Italian just a stone’s throw from his beloved West Ham United Football Club and is confident of delivering a home win this weekend.

His bold hairstyle has grabbed attention heading into his crunch Copper Box clash – but Liddard believes he will make a bigger statement in the ring in Saturday’s main event.

Liddard’s stablemate Jimmy Sains, meanwhile, is looking ahead to his Commonwealth Midldleweight Title fight.

Tokyo 2020 Team GB Olympic Silver Medallist Pat McCormack has withdrawn from his scheduled bout this weekend after sustaining a minor injury setback in training. The Sunderland fighter will return in a revised date in due course.

East End native Leli Buttigieg bid to win the English Middleweight belt when he faces PA Gordon. 

Rising superstar Tiah Mai Ayton can land her first major title this weekend when she challenges Ellie Hellewell for the Commonwealth Featherweight Championship. 

And young guns Louie Ward, Ioan Croft, Harley Burrows and Connor Mitchell are all out to extend their respective unbeaten starts in the pro game.

Here are some selected quotes from today’s press conference – watch it in full in the video player below:

Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO:
“George Liddard is doing everything right and he’s going down the route of taking fights, and that’s what people want to see. It was always about going down the route of winning titles. Winning the European Title was always next. We said we’d deliver it, that’s what we went and did. It’s a massive fight, and after this he wants the biggest fights. We were talking about all of the British names before this as well, and certain names that we were trying to target. Now it’s about going out there, winning the European belt and then building up through the ranks into those international titles, those eliminators with the sanctioning bodies and then I truly believe towards the end of next year fighting for a World Title.”
 
George Liddard: 
“There’s a lot been said about my hair. Let’s get that straight first. Only a certain type of man can get away with a trim like this. You’ve got to be a bad man to get away with this, I’m telling you now. Listen, it’s becoming a common theme being up here as the main event. I’m getting used to it now. It’s not going to change. You’re going to see me up here many more times.
 
“Every test I’ve been given I’ve passed. Every time someone’s been put to me, I’ve said yes. I’ve never said no to nobody. My team will vouch for me for that and so will Matchroom. I’ve never turned down anyone, and I’ve always performed. I’m talking the talk, but I’ll also walk the walk. That’s what matters. It’s all good saying these things but you’ve actually got to do them. Consistently I’ve proven that I’m capable of that. Let’s go pick up this European Title Saturday night and push on to World honours.
 
“The story from my last probably three, four, five fights is ‘experienced fighter takes on young hungry fighter’. That’s been the same thing the last four or five fights. Every single one of them has told me they’re going to beat me. What’s happened every time? I’ve proved them wrong. I’ll do the same again Saturday night. I’m too good, I’m too flashy, I’ve got too much going on for me. I work too hard. There’s no good having talent if you’re not obsessed with the game. I’m obsessed with this. I’m obsessed with becoming the best, and I will do that again on Saturday night.”

Dario Morello:
“It means everything. I worked a lot for this moment. I have worked all of my life for this moment. I want to take it. I have to take it. I am 33 years old. I am mature enough, I have trained enough and I want this title. I will take it.
 
“Inside the ring it is just me and him. So, we have to fight, and the best man will win. I am very prepared. He is too. It isn’t enough to beat me. I’m pretty sure about this and I will prove this on August 22.”

Jimmy Sains:
“It might have been a good learning fight, but I don’t want to have any more of those fights. I need to make sure that I’m on the ball. It was a bad performance, but we’ve made a few adjustments in camp and this next fight will be the best of myself.
 
“I think it should make for a good fight. I think Frank was right in what he said earlier, this is a proper fight. I’m expecting a good Tom Cowling to come on Saturday night. I’ve got to make sure that I’m on my game to get the win.
 
“I think Tom said it there. We’ve both worked hard, all of the hard work is done. We’re going to get stuck in. This is where the boxing and the violence happens Saturday night. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve trained very hard since the last fight. I can’t wait to get bac in the ring and to make those adjustments and show everyone the boxing ability that I’ve got.”

Tom Cowling:
“The Commonwealth Title is a major title. It’s always been a dream of mine to fight for a major title like this. I’m looking forward to it. Not many people had seen much about me before the Aaron Bowen fight. There’s more of where that came from.
“I respect Jimmy and his team. He’s a good fighter and I know that I need to be on my game Saturday night to get the win. God willing I’ll get the win. All of the hard work has been done, now for the good part.”

A confident George Liddard told Dario Morello that he should enjoy the feeling of holding the European title whilst it last as the pair came face-to-face for the first time today at Matchroom Boxing HQ.

Their huge EBU Eroupean Middleweight Championship clash – live worldwide on DAZN this Saturday – will now be staged at London’s Copper Box Arena.

It is a stone’s throw from Liddard’s beloved West Ham United Football Club and the Billericay Bomber is ready to serve up success for his East End faihful this weekend.

As the two rivals stood toe-to-toe this afternoon, both had a hand on the vacant belt – but undefeated Liddard told the experienced Italian to savour the moment, insisting it is the closest he come to getting near it come fight night.

Speaking today, British Champion Liddard (14-0, 8 KOs) said:“For me, this challenge is the same as it has always been for me: it is another step towards greatness.

“I have stepped up every single fight throughout my career. I have never shied away from anything or anyone. As soon as the European title was on the line, I have been calling for a big fight – and after the belt was vacated, Dario Morello is the man who steps inside the ring with me. And he’ll be the man who will get battered on Saturday night.”

Morello, meanwhile, believes he will upset Liddard on his home turf.

He said: “I dream about this day and this title and the chance to fight for it. It means everything to me. It is now or never for me. I have to win and leave everything in the ring. Every single sacrifice of my life was for this moment.

“Liddard is a solid man. Has good fundamentals and his physically strong. I understand him. On August 22, I will show you this.

Liddard has relinquished his Commonwealth strap, meaning stablemate Jimmy Sains (12-0, 4 KOs) will battle Newark’s Tom Cowling (15-1, 4 KOs) – who stunned Aaron Bowen in a thriller last November in Birmingham – for the honours this Saturday.

Sains has sacrificed his English Title in the process, meaning undefeated teenage sensation – and East End native – Leli Buttigieg (12-0, 4 KOs) will square off against unbeaten Harwich fighter PA Gordon (9-0, 1 KO) for the belt.

The female superstar in the making, labeled by the legendary Katie Taylor as the future Greatest of All Time, Tiah Mai Ayton (6-0, 5 KOs) bids for her first big championship when she collides with Ellie Hellewell (8-1-1, 1 KO) for the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight Title.

Plus, in a stellar supporting card on August 22, Team GB Olympic Silver Medallist Pat McCormack (8-1, 6 KOs) returns to action against Argentine opponent Brian Maximiliano looking to resurrect his rise up the rankings following his defeat by Conah Walker in Monte-Carlo last December.

And rising stars Connor Mitchell, Ioan Croft, Harley Burrows and Louie Ward join the stacked card, all out to continue their impressive starts to life in the professional ranks.

Keep track of all the latest news and updates across social media @matchroomboxing

Matchroom Boxing’s upcoming London show next Saturday, August 22, headlined by George Liddard vs Dario Morello for the vacant EBU European Middleweight Title, will now be staged at the Copper Box Arena in London – broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.

The decision comes following temporary issues with York Hall which means it is no longer a viable venue.

Matchroom Boxing extends its thanks to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), who operates the Copper Box Arena on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC).

Further ticket news, including details of additional tickets, will be released on Monday with all prior purchases retaining their tickets.

Fabio Turchi won a 10-round unanimous decision over Nikolajs Grisunins in a cruiserweight bout at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy.

Turchi, 199 1/2 lbs of Italy won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 100-90 and is now 18-1. Grisunins, 199 lbs is 12-2-1.

Dario Morello won a eight-round unanimous decision over Nestor Maradiago in a welterweight bout.

Morello, 149 lbs is 16-1. Maradiago, 146 1/2 lbs is 8-9-1.

Francesco Grandelli won a unanimous decision over Cristian Narvaez in a six-round featherweight bout.

Grandelli, 130 lbs is 14-1-1. Narvaez, 135 1/2 lbs is 16-23-5.

Ivan Zucco beat up Pavel Zgurean over three-rounds and the bout was stopped at the beginning of round four of their scheduled six-round super middleweight bout.

Zucco, 171 lbs of Italy is 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Zgurean, 170 lbs is 7-5.

Mirko Natalizi remained undefeated with a stoppage at the beginning of round four over Frane Radnic in a super welterweight bout.

In round one, Natalizi dropped Radnic with a straight right hand. In round two, Natalizi sent Radnic down for a 2nd time. In round three, Natalizi dropped Radnice with a right hand. The fight was stopped at the beginning of round four.

Natalizi, 159 lbs is 8-0 with five knockouts. Radnic, 164 1/2 lbs is 11-19.