Liam Davies Continues Telford Momentum With Major Cunningham Clash
Per the EBU, Telford’s Liam Davies (13-0, 5 KOs) will defend his European super bantamweight title against Doncaster’s former champion Jason Cunningham (31-7, 7 KOs) on April 29 at the 4,000-capacity Telford International Centre in Shropshire, England
Davies-Cunningham is expected to headline a Frank Warren/Queensberry Promotions Saturday night fight card live on BT Sport. Although unconfirmed, Davies’ British championship is also expected to be on the line.
The Telford man headlined in his hometown for the first time in June when he impressively dethroned Salford’s Marc Leach for the British Title in a fight where many backed Leach to win. Davies returned in November taking another 50-50 fight against the upset-minded Ionut Baluta where he put on a convincing display to leave with the European strap.
Cunningham was brutally stopped by South Africa’s Zolani Tete in his last contest back in July. In November, the South African newspaper “Daily Dispatch” broke that the former two-weight world champion failed a drugs test in the aftermath of his bout with Cunningham.
The failed UKAD test leaves him facing a potential four-year ban although a b-sample has not yet been examined. Tete’s team plans to challenge the finding and deny any wrongdoing on their part. The substance has not been revealed but is believed to be a ‘muscle-cutting agent’.
Prior to that, Cunningham was on a 7-fight win streak that included British, Commonwealth, and European titles as well as #7 ranking with the IBF. Cunningham will be hoping to reclaim the European belt in his challenge of Davies as well as having his bout with Tete changed to a ‘no contest’ if the South African cannot prove his innocence.
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