Liam Williams Announces Retirement

[joshj909]

Long standing problem for ex-boxers who struggle to let go.

I remember reading in Boxing News a very long time ago someone wrote in appealing to ex-boxers to try Fencing.

That's not a bad idea. They could also perhaps try a grappling based combat sport like Jiu-Jitsu or judo to challenge themselves at. It depends what they are chasing really whether it's the challenge, the hunger to be the best, the night under the lights or the pay check. Coaching or commentating doesn't really bring any of those unfortunately.

Unless they have some kind of background in the sport, they're not going to be successful in Jiu-Jitsu or judo or similar martial arts, especially at a high level, which may lead them back into boxing. I also believe that students of those martial arts disciplines would have difficulty being successful boxers without experience in it.

Success is measured differently. It's about achieving something. Working towards a black belt and trying to win regional tournaments are possible, even in later years. Keeps them busy, keeps them fit and gets them learning something whilst also competing. They're never going to go and win world championships, that's not what's expected of them.

[JC]

Long standing problem for ex-boxers who struggle to let go.

I remember reading in Boxing News a very long time ago someone wrote in appealing to ex-boxers to try Fencing.

Do many continue to go to gyms? to keep fit? something to do? light sparring?

Or is it the thrills of being under the lights the adrenaline they miss.

Hagler said he could go to the gym to skip, do floor work, etc, but couldn't hit the bag or do anything involving punching because he'd instantly start thinking about a come back.

[JamesPhilips]

Long standing problem for ex-boxers who struggle to let go.

I remember reading in Boxing News a very long time ago someone wrote in appealing to ex-boxers to try Fencing.

Do many continue to go to gyms? to keep fit? something to do? light sparring?

Or is it the thrills of being under the lights the adrenaline they miss.

Hagler said he could go to the gym to skip, do floor work, etc, but couldn't hit the bag or do anything involving punching because he'd instantly start thinking about a come back.

Hagler really is the model of retiring well and at the right time. Froch is another though he teases a comeback now and then I don’t think he will.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Plenty have retired and not looked back. Not even punditry or commentary.

Just sailed off.

[margaret thatcher]

Long standing problem for ex-boxers who struggle to let go.

I remember reading in Boxing News a very long time ago someone wrote in appealing to ex-boxers to try Fencing.

That's not a bad idea. They could also perhaps try a grappling based combat sport like Jiu-Jitsu or judo to challenge themselves at. It depends what they are chasing really whether it's the challenge, the hunger to be the best, the night under the lights or the pay check. Coaching or commentating doesn't really bring any of those unfortunately.

Unless they have some kind of background in the sport, they're not going to be successful in Jiu-Jitsu or judo or similar martial arts, especially at a high level, which may lead them back into boxing. I also believe that students of those martial arts disciplines would have difficulty being successful boxers without experience in it.

dont they have grappling tournaments that include divisions based on belt level or experience? or do you have to immediately go against magomed with the huge beard who has wrestled bears in the chechan mountains since he was a tot

pretty sure back when i was more into martial arts generally, there were divisions for like white belts, blue belts, etc. which presumably they wouldnt necessarily need some big grappling background to do well in since it's other begginers

[Ruthless-RKO]

Liam Williams nearing ‘being back in business’

Williams spoke openly about concussion around the Eubank Jnr fight, and said that he went ahead with the fight because he did not want to disappoint his fans.

“I’m in the process of being back in business,” the 33-year-old told BS. “I’m waiting, I’m hoping, something is going to come up soon.”

Williams does not have a promoter, but he is back training with Gary Lockett, alongside fellow Welshmen Rhys Edwards and Joe Cordina.

He admitted that the concussion issue had weighed heavily on him.

“To tell you the truth, I was [worried about it], but I’ve said many times, there is worrying, but at that stage I was a bit like, I had a lot going on, to be honest with you,” he said. “Not an excuse, you know, anybody can make excuses, but I’m not one to bullshit. I had a lot going on and even when I was in the gym and training and sparring, my mind was elsewhere. And at the time, I didn’t really want to focus on that too much because I had my own little problems going on and I didn’t want people knowing my life, my business.

“But now I’m at the back end of all that and I’m in a really good place just in general in life. I’m happy to say that.”

Williams’ pro record is 25 wins against five losses and a draw, and he revealed he had been missing the sport.

“Big time,” he said. “Obviously at the time, it was kind of a relief to say I’m done because I had so much other things going on. That was one less pressure to me, if you understand what I’m saying. It was an easy escape. It was one less thing on my mind. But obviously as months have gone by and things have gotten better, then, you know, it’s no longer a pressure on me because that's actually what I want to be doing.”

Williams said he needed the blessing of his coach, Lockett, and that he would only have come back to work with the former middleweight title challenger.

“There’s many other good trainers,” he explained. “I always said I started my career with Gary and went off and done what I needed to do and I’m grateful for Gary taking me back. “And I always said since I got back with him, this is where I’ll be till the end now.”

Williams did end his career with Lockett, but they’d been together in Williams’ formative years before Williams moved away, citing a desire to train at busier gyms where there was more sparring. With Cordina and Edwards in the gym, Williams is being pushed by them and Lockett.

“That’s always a great help, to be alongside the other lads and other people, at the high level or good level,” said Williams. “That’s always going to help being around them people, you know, so... But, yeah, it’s just mainly going back to that. I’ve just been missing it, and now everything else in my life is good. I feel like I’m in a good position. And if I didn’t do that, who’s to say, in a couple of years, three years, when I look back and think, ‘You know, am I going to regret not doing it, you know?’”

Williams is looking for significant opportunities. The idea of coming back and boxing on smaller shows does not appeal to him.

“If it means coming back on small hall bills, I probably wouldn’t come back,” he said.

“And that’s the truth of it. That’s not what I’m about doing, you know? So I’m hoping we’re going to get a breakthrough somewhere.”

There had been speculation about Boxxer staging a show in Wales in December. That seems unlikely, said Williams, but he wants to box before the end of the year.

“I’m hoping that something’s going to come up,” he said. “I’d really like to be out before the end of the year if I can. But in terms of going back to small halls, I’ve been involved in boxing a long time. I boxed at a really good level. I’m not interested in that, to be honest with you. As much as I love boxing, I’m not going to put myself through what we put ourselves through to fight on a small bill with no TV.”

Williams also acknowledges that he is stepping into the unknown. Although he’s had live rounds in the gym, nothing tells you what’s left in a fighter until fight night itself.

“The truth is, I’ve been sparring,” he said. “I’ve been training. I’m training. I feel like Liam Williams again. But the truth is, none of us know [what I can do at 33]. I’ve been sparring well. I feel great. But the truth is, the fight is where we will find out. But I do believe that you’re going to get a better Liam Williams than you did in recent fights.”

[Frostieballs]

Please retire Liam

Sadly a few BKB fights are probably on the cards.

[MPW]

That's not a bad idea. They could also perhaps try a grappling based combat sport like Jiu-Jitsu or judo to challenge themselves at. It depends what they are chasing really whether it's the challenge, the hunger to be the best, the night under the lights or the pay check. Coaching or commentating doesn't really bring any of those unfortunately.

Unless they have some kind of background in the sport, they're not going to be successful in Jiu-Jitsu or judo or similar martial arts, especially at a high level, which may lead them back into boxing. I also believe that students of those martial arts disciplines would have difficulty being successful boxers without experience in it.

Success is measured differently. It's about achieving something. Working towards a black belt and trying to win regional tournaments are possible, even in later years. Keeps them busy, keeps them fit and gets them learning something whilst also competing. They're never going to go and win world championships, that's not what's expected of them.

Good points. Success is relative to the goal that has been set.

[MPW]

That's not a bad idea. They could also perhaps try a grappling based combat sport like Jiu-Jitsu or judo to challenge themselves at. It depends what they are chasing really whether it's the challenge, the hunger to be the best, the night under the lights or the pay check. Coaching or commentating doesn't really bring any of those unfortunately.

Unless they have some kind of background in the sport, they're not going to be successful in Jiu-Jitsu or judo or similar martial arts, especially at a high level, which may lead them back into boxing. I also believe that students of those martial arts disciplines would have difficulty being successful boxers without experience in it.

dont they have grappling tournaments that include divisions based on belt level or experience? or do you have to immediately go against magomed with the huge beard who has wrestled bears in the chechan mountains since he was a tot

pretty sure back when i was more into martial arts generally, there were divisions for like white belts, blue belts, etc. which presumably they wouldnt necessarily need some big grappling background to do well in since it's other begginers

Especially if the bears were tapping out.

I don't know about levels or skill-based divisions in grappling, but that is the case in martial arts like tae kwon do. When I was around it years ago, you didn't have a 35-year-old yellow belt squaring off against an 11-year-old yellow belt, despite competency in comparable skills; instead, they were matched based on belt level and age.

Success is different for everyone. (I incorrectly assumed competing under the bright lights at the highest level.) Perhaps the retired boxer's goal is to challenge and push himself to earn a first-degree black belt in a particular discipline, a notable accomplishment and certainly not an easy feat.

[Old bones Ian]

Williams could probably get around the British title again given a chance , I can see why he's saying he doesn't want small hall events but one warm up type fight in a small hall this year might do him so good.
If he gets in a bigger show and doesn't perform he'll struggle to get back on one again, or he'll get a fight on a bigger bill as the away boxer and get walloped without a warm up

[THEBUTCH]

I don't think he's capable of winning a British title anymore. Williams is just fodder now. Stay retired and stay healthy.

[Flump]

I don't think he's capable of winning a British title anymore. Williams is just fodder now. Stay retired and stay healthy.

Tend to agree, his punch resistance has completely gone it seems, which is the clear sign that it's time to do something else.