George Liddard plans to set up a “big 2025” when he and Derrick Osaze fight on Friday at London’s Indigo at the O2.
Liddard-Osaze headlines Matchroom’s NXTGEN card, which also features the promising Junaid Bostan’s English middleweight title fight with Bilal Fawaz. The middleweight Liddard (10-0, 6 KOs) has confronts his toughest test yet in British title challenger Osaze.
“Thank you to Matchroom, my first headline [with Matchroom] – I’m excited,” said Liddard, 22. “I never shy away from a test, Derrick is a good test and I plan to pass it.
“My last four, five fights have all been a step up and they’ve all come to flip the script. I’m ready to put on a big performance and push on for big fights in 2025.
“We’re going to see who’s got the bigger dog inside of them come Friday night.”
Osaze (13-2 3KOs) last fought against Denzel Bentley for the British middleweight title, when losing via a vicious second-round knockout. Osaze, 31, returns against a prospect in Liddard but has no plans on being a “stepping stone”.
“George is a good fighter, you’re not going to be sitting in this seat and topping a Matchroom bill if you’re not a good fighter,” he said.
“[But] I didn’t get into this sport to become some kind of gate keeper or some kind of stepping stone. Come Friday he has got a serious, serious task on his hands.”
Liddard’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has been impressed with Liddard’s development under the experienced Tony Sims.
“George Liddard, the way he’s come on in the last four, five fights has been great,” said Hearn. “We always knew he would get to British title level but the way he’s been dealing with people…”
Hearn also insisted the winner of the bout would go on to challenge for the British title in the future. “Winner stays on,” he said
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