LIAM WILLIAMS has been defeated after a gutsy 12-round slog against Demitrius Andrade.
The Welshman was knocked down in the second but got back to his feet and fought back to take his American opponent the distance in Florida.
Stay up to date with all the action in our live blog, below…
A MOMENT HE’LL REGRET?
Liam Williams had Demetrius Andrade badly hurt in the ninth round.
He’ll no doubt be kicking himself for not going for broke after wobbling the champion.
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE DISCUSSES UNIFICATION FIGHTS
He said: “At the end of the day, I’m a champion. I’m undefeated.
“I shouldn’t have to inspire anybody to get in the ring for a belt, an undefeated record and a whole lot of money on the table.
“Whenever we can sit down and make something happen, I’m willing to do it. I’m willing to risk it all.
“I want to show that if I’m the best, I gotta get in there with those guys and they got to do the same as well.
“This was a nice stepping stone for me to get on to that level.”
When asked for a message to Jermell Charlo, he said: “Let’s get it on.”
WILLIAMS SPEAKS
The Machine said: “Demetrius is a very good fighter. He’s better than I thought, to be honest with you.
“He’s slicker than he is on TV. I couldn’t really get going in terms of landing shots and getting my combinations off.
“Because I’d hit him once – I hurt him a couple of times, I feel – but he was gone before I knew it and [I] couldn’t capitalise on it.”
THE CHAMPION TALKS
Demetrius Andrade has hailed Liam Williams.
He said: “Liam Williams – hell of a fighter. Tough, strong and he comes to fight.
“And that’s the type of fight people wanted to see me in.
“And that’s what we did. I showed out, I performed how I needed to perform to get the W. And my hat goes off to Liam Williams all day.”
AND STILL!
Liam Williams’ bid to dethrone the WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade ends in a unanimous decision defeat.
The judges scored the fight 116-111, 118-109, 118-109 in favour of the champ.
A valiant effort from the Brit, who can hold his head high.
ROUND TWELVE
To say Williams has pushed Andrade to the brink would a massive understatement.
But he’s allowing himself to be tied up. Andrade lands a lopping left hand that stings Williams.
They fall to the floor after yet another clinch, which the ref hasn’t warned the champ for.
Andrade wants no part in a late brawl staying long and elusive.
The final bell goes and it goes to the judges’ scorecards.
I have Andrade winning, but not by much though.
I have it 116-111 in favour of the champion.
Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom. ROUND ELEVEN
Andrade is on the defensive straight away and is back to pot-shotting.
Williams is getting frustrated at Andrade’s constant clinching. And who can blame him?
Andrade lands a good flurry after touching Williams with a beautiful straight left.
Williams briefly goes to work on the body of Andrade but once again finds himself tied up.
Andrade lands a big uppercut to close out the round, a shot which may see the judges award him the stanza.
On to the final round.
ROUND TEN
Williams tries to close the distance early but is once again wrapped up by Andrade.
The Welshman lands a good straight right hand that puts Andrade in retreat mode.
A tired Andrade seems to have no pep to his punches. But as I say that, he lands a big left hand.
They clinch yet again. The ref needs to have a word with Andrade here.
Williams lands a good hook on the inside before the end of the round.
Andrade is huffing and puffing on his stool. Williams has to go for broke in these last two rounds.
ROUND NINE
Williams lands a good one-two combination after blocking a right uppercut.
Andrade is doing a masterful job of staying elusive and tying up Williams when he looks to close the distance.
A long right hand lands for Williams. Andrade looks hurt.
His legs don’t look steady whatsoever. Williams needs to go for broke here.
The pair trade blows on the inside before the end of the round. This is getting tasty.
ROUND EIGHT
Andrade wants no part of the inside battle he had to deal with earlier in the fight, staying light on his feet and circling away from Williams.
Booboo looks more than happy to pot shot from distance.
Williams needs to cut off the ring rather than walk forward in a straight line.
Andrade lands a big uppercut after making Williams miss a flurry of jabs. Beautiful stuff from the champ.
ROUND SEVEN
Andrade is opting against going for the jugular straight off the bat, circling away from the former two-division British champ.
Williams’ gas tank hasn’t depleted and he’s continuing to dictate pace of the fight.
Andrade lands another big uppercut a few moments before the end of the round.
Williams was definitely the aggressor that round, but that late shot will likely have won the round for Andrade.
ROUND SIX
Williams tries to rough up the champion, who accuses the Welshman of trying to poke him in the eye.
Andrade is clearly frustrated by the work rate and relentlessness of Williams.
Andrade lands a big straight left, which he follows up with another huge uppercut.
Another massive uppercut lands, but that hasn’t stopped Williams from continuing to march forward.
Another round in the bank for Andrade.
ROUND FIVE
Williams’ belief hasn’t wavered one bit, with the Welshman continuing to come forward with bad intentions.
A good right hook lands for Williams, but he ends up eating a uppercut a few moments later.
Andrade follows up with a lovely body-head combination that briefly sets Williams back.
Williams is cut, although the laceration doesn’t seem to be too bad.
Andrade tries to hold but the pair end up crashing between the ropes.
ROUND FOUR
Andrade opens the round with a good straight left to the body and a follow-up combination.
Dominic Ingle has instructed Williams to continue to get in the face of the champion and is having good success boxing on the inside.
Andrade is starting to be wayward with his shots and allowing himself to be dragged into a brawl.
First round in the bank for the challenger.
ROUND THREE
Williams seems to have recovered and is showing better movement than in the second.
Andrade’s footwork and head movement is a joy to watch, unless you’re in the corner of Williams.
Andrade finally lands that big lead uppercut he’s been looking for.
Williams will have to figure out a better strategy to close the distance otherwise Andrade will continue to have his way.
As I say that, Williams lands two good shots before the end of the round.
ROUND TWO
Andrade is looking to land his big lead uppercut early but is wide of the mark again.
Willaims is having a real hard time closing the distance and has resorted to chasing the champion instead of cutting off the ring.
A big straight left lands for Andrade, who follows up with a sickening flurry to the body.
Andrade is keeping his head low but Williams is struggling to find a home for his shots.
Down goes Williams. It was a big straight left that put the Welshman down.
Williams, somehow, survives the late onslaught to make it to the third.
ROUND ONE
Williams takes the centre of the ring immediately but eats a big left hand.
Andrade lands a vicious flurry which he ends with a big looping left hand.
Williams is shaken and hurt. He needs to hold on or start boxing at distance.
Andrade has started at a ferocious pace and shown pin-point accuracy, particularly with his straight left.
Williams appears to have found his feet again and ends the round well.
HERE WE GO!
Demetrius Andrade and Liam Williams are staring each other down. This is what we’ve been waiting for, folks.
Let’s hope it delivers.
WILLIAMS IS IN THE RING
Liam Williams made a quick entry to the ring.
We now await the champion Demetrius Andrade, who is coming out to a song from the late DMX.
FINAL LOOK AT THE TALE OF THE TAPE
While we wait for both men to make their way to the ring, here’s a look at how they stack up.
NOT LONG NOW
Liam William’s crack at WBO gold will shortly be upon us.
Demetrius Andrade has just finished up his final warm-up, Williams has just finished his warm up.
Bring on the action.
THE STOPPAGE
Here’s a closer look at Carlos Gongora’s eighth-round stoppage of Christopher Pearson.
Pearson’s swollen eye was in agony before the end and that right hook left him in excruciating pain.
ROUND EIGHT – GONGORA WINS!
Ugly and clumsy start to the round but then Gongora lands a massive left hand and Pearson goes down.
The referee starts a count and Pearson jumps up but then dips back down again and lets himself be counted out.
The loser points to his swollen eye but commentator Paul Smith is not happy with the surrender.
ROUND SEVEN
Pearson looks interested with a jab and a left straight to Gongora’s body.
But everything is a little highlight with the challenger and he fails to mount any form of pressure.
Right on the bell Gongora backs his prey up with a double-jab and a booming left hand down the pipe.
ROUND SIX
Pearson shoves the referee’s hand away when he tries to control the action and he gets a warning from Frank Gentile.
Gongora is trying a few rough-house tactics but in the final minute he scores with crisp flush shots.
Pearson is battered back into his shell and has a welt growing over his right eye.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
