Williams, 28, has bludgeoned his way into mandatory position for a shot at the WBO World Title held by Demetrius Andrade off the back of four blistering wins since stepping up to middleweight in December 2018 and becoming a two-weight British champion following a one-sided demolition of the previously unbeaten Mark Heffron.

He made a further defence three months later and landed a clinically executed knockout of Joe Mullender in the second round, before stopping the never before stopped tough campaigner Karim Achour in the summer of last year.

Williams rounded off 2019 by knocking the previously No.1 ranked Alantez Fox off his feet and his perch in the fifth round of a magnificent display of clinical brutality against the confident American, whose only loss prior to meeting the Welshman was on points to Andrade.

The Clydach Vale man (22-2-1) is now eagerly awaiting news of a soon-to-be scheduled purse bid for his challenge to Andrade and to discover whether the champion accepts his mandatory or vacates.

“I am happy to have mapped out my future and my entire focus is on getting my world title shot and winning it,” said Williams in reaction to his new deal.

“I am so looking forward to the fight being made and becoming world champion. That is all that matters to me right now.

“We have been good for each other. Frank has delivered the fights to take me to mandatory position and I have done my side by winning them in the way I have. Nobody could ever say there has been any sort of failing on either side.

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“It has all been good, I am happy and looking forward to moving forward.”

Promoter Frank Warren added: “I am delighted Liam has committed to us for the long-term and I am convinced we will soon have a world middleweight champion on our books.

“We have provided the opportunities for him since he moved up to 160lbs and he has taken them and furthered his career in a way few would have imagined. He has taken the division by storm.

“He is fast becoming a bone-fide star at the weight with his style of fighting and the way he goes about his business.

“Hopefully we will have his world title shot nailed down as soon as possible and I am sure it will be the first of many big world title nights for Liam moving forward.”

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The World Boxing Organisation today sanctioned the bout between Liam Smith and Liam Williams for the WBO interim super-welterweight world title. Smith and Williams’ showdown will take place at the Manchester Arena on Saturday April 8th, broadcast live on BT Sport and BoxNation.

Promoter Frank Warren: “I am delighted to have delivered this opportunity for these two outstanding fighters. This fight has all the ingredients to be a fight the year contender and now, with the added prize of the interim belt, there is more than just pride on the line for both.

“It is well documented that Canelo has plans to step up in weight and that could well see the winner of this becoming a recognized world champion. It’s a great all-domestic clash that I don’t think will go the distance – they are going to come out swinging and it will be exciting while it lasts.”

Liam Smith: “I’m delighted that Frank (Warren) has delivered this opportunity,” said Smith. “I’d like to thank my management team and the WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Varcarcel for keeping faith in me. I said I would be a world champion again in 2017 and this is my opportunity. The winner of this is a world champion in waiting. I don’t think Canelo has any intention of defending the 154lbs world title.

This is a win-win situation for me. If I beat Liam Williams I’ll be in an unbelievable position again. If Canelo decides to defend his belt I think I could do a million times better against him in a rematch. It was well publicized that I had the worst training camp of my career heading into that fight. He’s a world class fighter and I want to test myself against elite fighters. If not, there are huge fights against the likes of Miguel Cotto out there for me. First and foremost I have to beat Liam Williams on April 8th.”

Liam Williams: “This is a massive opportunity for me,” said Williams. “It is a huge fight and a brilliant chance for me to propel my name to the top of the sport. This is going to be a proper fight and I’m delighted that Frank keeps on delivering these opportunities for me. There are some huge fights out there for me if I deliver on April 8th. I was already massively motivated for the Smith fight but this has given me another big boost. I’ve been working towards an opportunity like this all of my career and I’ll be bringing that belt back to Wales with me.

www. fightnews.com/Boxing/smith-williams-now-wbo-interim-jr-middleweight-title-398662#more-398662

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By Elliot Foster

Liam Smith against Liam Williams was arguably the biggest highlight of Monday’s announcement regarding the BT Sport schedule. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the super-welterweight clash as part of his deal between BoxNation, his own broadcaster, and the aforementioned BT Sport. Reports last week suggested that the fight would be for the vacant WBO super-welterweight world title.

That belt, however, is currently held by Mexico’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who faces Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6. And a media release from Frank Warren’s office, just hours after the schedule announcement for the next few months, revealed that the fight between the Liverpudlian –– who lost the WBO title to Alvarez in Texas last September –– and Clydach Vale’s Williams, on April 8 at Manchester Arena, exclusively live on BoxNation and BT Sport, will instead be for Williams’ WBO European title at 154 pounds. Williams won the title against Gabor Gorbics on November 26, 2016, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Further details regarding the fight and the full card, which is headed by Terry Flanagan’s fifth defence of the WBO lightweight world title against number two-ranked Petr Petrov and will also feature the professional debut of two-time Olympic champion Nicola Adams, will be revealed in due course.

– See more at: http://www.boxingscene.com/liam-williams-vs-liam-smith-wbo-european-belt-april-8–112916#sthash.ai6NQ0Iy.dpuf –

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