GEORGE LIDDARD defended his British and Commonwealth middleweight titles with a bloody win over Tyler Denny.
In front of a raucous home Copper Box crowd, Liddard started well but then saw a tough Denny grow into the fight.
It was the first time the Billericay Bomber, 23, had gone to 12 rounds and he had to dig deep to secure the win late.
All three judges scored it 116-112.
After the big win, Liddard said: “He brought more than I expected, I’m grateful for it.
“I’ve never been 12 rounds before. I’m on a journey to the top, however I get there.
“I put on a show, you got to witness a war and I can’t thank you enough for coming out.
“I’m just a young boy from Billericay living out a dream.”
On his performance, he added: “It was good, there was a lot to learn tonight, there was good work from him.
“We’ll go back to the drawing board but who else is stepping up like I am at 23 in middlweight?
Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn added: “We have to remember [Liddard’s] 23, most people haven’t even turned pro at his age.
“He works so hard in the gym, that fitness won him the fight, it was close, to have that kind of experience at a young age shows how far he can go.
“If he keeps working as hard as he is, I believe he can be a world champion.”
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