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Joe Calzaghe backs Liam Williams to become latest Welsh world champion

Can Williams live the American Dream and deliver a big upset on the weekend against the undefeated two-division world champion in Florida?

Boxing legend Joe Calzaghe is backing Liam Williams to upset the odds this weekend against Demetrius Andrade.
The Dominic Ingle fighter challenges the American for the WBO middleweight title on April 17 and if he succeeds, he will become the 13th Welsh world champion.
The showdown, which sees Andrade make the fourth defence of his strap, will be live and exclusive to DAZN worldwide.Calzaghe knows a thing or two about how to beat an American.
In 2006, he destroyed Jeff Lacey - a fighter once regarded as a smaller version of Mike Tyson.
The southpaw, who retired with an unblemished record of 46-0, also defeated Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. in his final two fights as a professional.
"I would be thrilled to see Liam become World champion," said Calzaghe.
"He's earned his spot at the table and now he just has to go out there and deliver. Everyone in Wales is behind him," Calzaghe said.
"It's not going to be an easy night, but he'll know that. Demetrius is a slippery customer with bags of skill, but I think Liam needs to get in there, get close to him, unsettle him, make him work and not give him one second's rest.
"If he does that, I think he could take the belt on points and even force a late stoppage.

"It'll be a hard night's work, but he's got the tools to get it done and I'd love to see him bring the belt back to Wales."

Andrade wants big name next

Andrade is a two-division world champion having previously held the WBO version at 154-pounds.
Despite being part of Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing USA stable, he has been unable to secure a signature fight with the elite at middleweight or super middleweight.

"It's no secret, this isn't the fight I wanted, but now it's here, and I will be taking care of business, taking care of Liam Williams in spectacular fashion come April 17," Andrade said.

"Then it's whoever wants it. Canelo. GGG. Saunders. Charlo. Plant. I'm here. Undefeated. Two-division world champion. Current middleweight champion of the world. I dare one of you to say my name."
Williams, meanwhile, has enhanced his reputation since back-to-back defeats to Liam Smith in 2017 with seven successive wins and six coming inside the distance.
"I've been quite vocal saying I'll smash him, and I actually am going to," Williams said.
"I've waited for this for too long now. I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers.
"I'll grab the opportunity with both hands. I just think he's a complete weirdo, a very strange man.
"I've watched him for some time. I used to be a bit of a fan of him back then.
"Now I get the chance to share a ring with him and punch his face in, and I can't wait to do it. I'm going to punch lumps out of him nonstop."

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