Undefeated Shropshire Boxers Davies and Masoud Set for Showdown

Professional boxers Liam Davies and Shabaz Masoud each maintain undefeated records. The upcoming fight between Liam Davies and Shabaz Masoud in Birmingham on Saturday revives a rivalry that originated years ago in Shropshire. This Saturday, at the bp pulse LIVE venue (previously known as the NEC), Davies’s IBO super-bantamweight title, which is widely considered an unrecognised world title, will be contested. With both Davies and Shabaz entering the ring with undefeated professional records, one fighter’s perfect streak is set to end, a stark contrast to their initial encounters as amateurs representing competing clubs in Shropshire. The 28-year-old Davies started his boxing journey at Donnington Boxing Club, a facility established by his grandfather and currently managed by his father, Tristan. Shabaz, also 28, commenced his training at Wellington Boxing Academy, where his uncle, Mo Fiaz, serves as head coach. The academy continues to receive support from Richie Woodhall, Shropshire’s former world super-middleweight champion. As amateurs, they competed twice, with Shabaz emerging victorious in both bouts. Now, Davies’s professional record of 16 wins in 16 fights will be challenged by Shabaz, who holds 13 wins from 13 professional contests. Davies also aims to settle the issue of local bragging rights. Davies stated to BBC Radio Shropshire, “He’s beat me twice so of course I want revenge. I was in a bad place then but I’m a grown man now. That kid they fought back then would have never been in this position. Trust me, it’ll be a different fight this time. It’s been a long time coming. He’s known a lot of people in the area and to me, it’s just jealousy. They want to try and knock me down a peg but I come from the same place as them and if anything, they should respect me.” Shabaz recalled, “We boxed years ago. We were 15 or 16 – and I beat him. Then we boxed again when we were 21 or 22 and I beat him again. So it’s time to put a beating on him again.” Shabaz, a native of Stoke-on-Trent, secured a national title during his amateur career, though his professional journey has been intermittent due to injuries and periods of inactivity. He is currently affiliated with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom team and receives training in Essex from Ben Davison, who has worked in Anthony Joshua’s corner and formerly coached Tyson Fury. “There’s a lot of politics in boxing,” Shabaz informed BBC Radio Shropshire. “But I always believe everything happens for a reason. God’s plan is better than our plan. Behind the scenes, certain things didn’t play out for me but we’re here now and it’s time to put everything right. My best performances have come when I’m the underdog. When I feel like I’ve got something to prove I always pull it off.” In March, Liam Davies defeated his most recent opponent, Erik Robles, within two rounds at the identical Birmingham location. Following his victory over Marc Leach for the British super-bantamweight title at the Telford International Centre in June 2022, Davies returned to the same venue in November to secure the European title against Ionut Baluta. He then successfully defended this title for the first time at Telford in July 2023, achieving a first-round knockout against Jason Cunningham, marking his last fight in Shropshire. His two latest bouts also concluded prematurely: a fifth-round stoppage of Vincenzo La Femina in Manchester in November 2023, which defended his European title, followed by his win against Erik Robles in Birmingham in March to secure the vacant IBO super bantamweight title. Davies’s affiliation with Frank Warren’s Queensberry promotions team intensifies the rivalry, though Davies himself refrains from engaging in significant trash talk. He stated, “I respect Shabaz, he’s the same as me. He’s also been chasing his dream from a young lad. But it’s either me or him. That’s how it is in this game. I’m coming with everything to make sure me and my team prove we’re on top. I believe I’m the man in this country. I’m two years with a 100% knockout ratio and that’s been on my mind all camp, for sure.” Liam Davies and Shabaz Masoud spoke with Mark Elliott of BBC Radio Shropshire.