Liam Cameron Interview
Liam Cameron Interview
CROWD-PULLER: Cameron will be treated by many as the main event on his debut
Often, the first bout of a young boxer’s career sees him fighting half way down the undercard in front of a half-empty hall, but when Sheffield welterweight Liam Cameron makes his berth in the professional ranks against Matt Scriven on Saturday night (October 24) he’ll be the star of the show. Back in May, Cameron scored an 8-6 victory over Dudley O’Shaughnessy at the English Institute of Sport in his home city to win the English 69kg ABA title and since then he’s built a steady following of fans – many of whom will be cheering him on this weekend. “I’ve got loads of people coming [to the bill],” enthused the 19-year-old, who boxed for Steel City ABC in the unpaid ranks. “I’ve sold loads of tickets and they are doing the show around me so I’m buzzing. Most of the Sheffield people coming are coming to see me.” Cameron surprised many people when he won that ABA title, particularly pre-tournament favourite Scott Cardle whom he defeated 10-0 in the semi-finals, and admits it took a few days for the achievement to sink in. “I couldn’t sleep for days, [I was] wide awake,” revealed Cameron. “I went to the gym about six o’clock in the morning and me and my trainer were just laughing all day. It was a right buzz. “Nobody thought I could have won it. They said these kids were gonna’ be harder than who I’d boxed in the past but I didn’t listen to them. I just trained hard and sparred with the right people. I was just strong minded and I won it.” Things weren’t always so rosy for the young Yorkshire man in the vest and headguard. When he started out there were members of his family who didn’t immediately spot his potential and encouraged him to quit the sport. “I won my first two fights but then I moved gyms and I changed my style, ‘cause I used to like coming forward when I was a kid and then I just kept losing, losing, losing,” Cameron said. “All my family were saying ‘you’ve gotta quit or you’ll get hurt’ and my brother was saying I was c*** and it frustrated me to tears everyday ‘cause I wanted to do it so bad. My trainer said to me that when I got my first win the confidence boost would keep me wining from there. When I did finally get that win I started stopping ‘em and kept winning.” After scooping both the English and British amateur crowns this year Cameron set his sights on a long and successful stint in the amateurs, which he hoped would culminate in a spot a the 2012 London Olympics. But after being overlooked for a place at the European Union Championships he decided it was time to turn over. “I won the English title and I was told that whoever won the British Championships two weeks later would be going to the European Union championships. I won that [by defeating Dudley O’Shaughnessy again] and they picked the lad I beat 10-0 in the [English] semi finals. “Scott Cardle is GB number one, he’s their man at 69 kilos so I thought that it wasn’t benefiting me to stay amateur when he’s getting picked for everything and I’ve gotta’ wait for the next ABAs to do what I’ve already done again. I thought it would benefit me to turn pro.” With his pedigree and fanbase Cameron could have signed with pretty much any promoter in the land but chose to sign with Dennis Hobson’s Fight Academy and it was a choice that perplexed a lot of people given Hobson’s current lack of a television contract. “I signed with Dennis because he’s a Sheffield man and he’s in it for me, not just himself,” explained Cameron. “People say ‘You could have had a TV deal’ but how many fighters has Frank Warren got that don’t get on TV? He’s not gonna’ show me. I hope to just keep winning with Dennis and hopefully we can get TV. “He’s a good friend as well. He took me out to Miami and I carried the flag out for Clinton Woods and it’s a good experience. Him [Hobson] and my sponsors have been really good to me. He puts me on all the football pitches and he’s promoting me right good up to now.” 
