With a serious present heading to Liverpool this weekend, we have a look at among the greatest boxers to have emerged from that metropolis…
1 John Conteh
After profitable British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles, Conteh reigned as WBC champion from 1974 to ’78, beating Jorge Ahumada to win the belt and later defending it towards Yaqui Lopez.
2 Callum Smith
The youngest of the 4 combating Smiths, Callum received a British super-middleweight title inside a spherical in 2015, a European title inside a spherical in 2016, after which stopped George Groves in seven to take the WBA belt.
3 Tony Bellew
Heavy-handed Bellew began as a light-heavyweight, the place he received British and Commonwealth titles and twice challenged for variations of the world title. Nevertheless, it was at cruiserweight he really flourished, profitable the vacant WBC belt with a third-round knockout of Ilunga Makabu in 2016.
4 Paul Hodkinson
Generally known as “Hoko”, Hodkinson received British, European and WBC titles at featherweight. His first world title shot resulted in disappointment, however a win in his rematch towards Marcos Villasana in 1991 landed Hodkinson the WBC title on the second try.
5 Liam Smith
Liam “Beefy” Smith received the British super-welterweight title in 2014 earlier than taking the WBO belt the next 12 months when beating Apollo Thompson in seven rounds. He later misplaced that belt towards Mexican celebrity Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, however finds himself now within the midst of one other title run.
6 Andy Holligan
Having received British and Commonwealth super-lightweight titles in 1991, then profitable the Lonsdale belt outright, Holligan challenged the nice Julio César Chávez for the WBC title in Mexico in December ’93. With Chávez 88-0-1 on the time, it got here as no shock to see Holligan stopped inside 5 rounds.
7 Alan Rudkin
A British, Commonwealth and European champion at bantamweight, Rudkin obtained his three world title photographs in probably the most hostile of environments. He fought Preventing Harada in Japan, Lionel Rose in Australia, and Rubén Olivares in Los Angeles, dropping the primary two on factors, with Olivares then stopping him in two.
8 Ernie Roderick
A British champion at each welterweight and middleweight, in addition to a European champion at welterweight, Roderick received 112 of his 140 professional fights and competed from 1931 to 1950.
9 Nel Tarleton
Tarleton was a three-time British featherweight champion and the primary boxer to win two or extra Lonsdale titles. In all, he received 119 of 148 professional fights.
10 Shea Neary
Although he spent his prime years profitable and defending a fringe “world” title, super-lightweight Neary however produced some traditional tear-ups all through the 90s, beating the likes of Darryl Tyson and Andy Holligan, and would famously go to battle with Micky Ward in 2000.
