Liam James beat Kevin Bennett in December after a cut forced an early stoppage, he’s now looking for a more comprehensive win.
Newcastle fighter Liam James is determined to prove he deserves to world champion, after his title win was overshadowed by suggested controversy.
And while James personally doesn’t understand why he isn’t credited as such already, he’s happy to step into the ring again and prove the belt belongs to him.
James, a former professional mixed martial artist who sparred and befriended Irish superstar Conor McGregor, turned to bare knuckle boxing in 2015.
After an impressive and unbeaten start, James was matched with lightweight world champion Kevin Bennett where he took the title, but in circumstances that led to questions being asked of the fighter.
Bennett, a former professional boxing Commonwealth champion from Hartlepool, was left stunned as James went to his hometown and won the belt.
But on Saturday in Coventry, James hopes to it more comprehensively, after the first fight ended early due to a cut.
He said: “As far as I see it, it was my punch that caused the damage that meant he couldn’t continue so I won the fight.
“But they whinged on so the rematch is on.
“I’m going to make sure there’s no doubt and no controversy this time around. I’m going to prove I deserve to be the BKB world champion.”
Bennett can expect a tough fight against a clearly fired up James. Then again, you’d expect as much from a man who’s nicknamed ‘Bad Intentions’ anyway.
James is considering a return to mixed martial arts after this rematch. A regular on Cage Warriors bills, James left the caged combat sport with a 9-6 winning record and was rarely involved in a dull fight.
It’s how he came to train with now-UFC star McGregor who he would become friends with.
James recalls: “It started because I featured on the same card as Conor and I asked his coach (John Kavanagh) if I could come train there with him.
“He was happy to have me and I ended up staying there for a year.
“I used to live with John Kavanagh while there in Dublin. I’d fly over on a Monday, train until the Friday, then fly home to see my kids on a weekend.
“I was one of Conor’s main sparring partners for most of that time apart from when he was going over to America.
“We got on really well and I held my own in with him, but that left hand is as good as it looks! It was like sparring with someone who just that split second further in the future than you, he just knew what was coming so much quicker. I’d throw something and he was already reacting to that.
“His accuracy I remember well too. I remember once we sparred 5x5mins rounds he threw eight consecutive shots and every single one hit me in the same place before I could even move. My eye was purple the next day!”
