Liam Williams has announced his retirement from boxing eight months after being stopped in the opening session by Hamzah Sheeraz.
The Welsh middleweight, who also campaigned at super-welterweight, carried Welsh boxing by himself for large periods of his career as he often competed in high profile bouts against a series of big names.
After reigning as domestic and Commonwealth champion at 154lsb, Williams made a huge jump in class when he took part in a brutal two fight series against Liverpool’s Liam Smith.
Williams performed brilliantly in their first contest in 2017 before a cut turned the bout in Smith’s favour, and he was able to claim a stoppage win after Williams was pulled out by his corner.
In an immediate rematch, Smith was much improved, and he displayed his dominance on the rivalry as he won on points.
Rebuilding after the setbacks, Williams proved to be far too good for British title level as blasted his way past the likes of Mark Heffron and Andrew Robinson.
A return to world level beckoned and that came in 2021 when he was outpointed by Demetrius Andrade when competing for the WBO middleweight title.
Further losses to Chris Eubank Jr and Sheeraz took their toll on Williams, and he’s now confirmed his exit from the sport after amassing a brilliant 25-5-1 record.
"I trust the people around me and when they are telling you it's over, you have to listen. It was very hard to hear,” said Williams when speaking to BBC Sport .
"I'd had some problems with concussions. I had three or four in 18 months.
"I don't want to box just for money and get a hit to the head you can never come back from.
"I've got a lovely family, a lovely partner, if I can't enjoy my life with them because of damage to my brain, what would it be for?"
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