Trainer urged Williams not to make boxing comeback

Liam Williams has revealed that Gary Lockett, a seasoned boxing pro, had stopped him from resuming his career.

After suffering “several concussions,” Williams retired in February 2024 after a humbling first-round defeat suffered by Hamzah Sheeraz. He cited concerns over chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from his experiences.

The former world title challenger announced his comeback last week and has since stated to BBC Sport, “I feel like a new man.”

When it’s too late, Williams said, “I would not want to look back and wish I had a few more fights.”

After being down twice in the opening round of competition at London’s Copper Box Arena, Lockett decided to save his fighter from Sheeraz.

After that, he concurred that Williams was “done.”

Although the pair remained close, the former middleweight’s return to Lockett’s Cardiff gym earlier this year was met with a cold shoulder.

Gary disregarded my training. Williams recalled that he said, “I’m not really interested.”

He said, “I care about you dearly, and that’s not just a boxer-coach relationship,” and that I was a good friend.

Unsurprisingly, Lockett’s duty of care for his rival was lacking.

He was in Nick Blackwell’s shoes when he went into an induced coma for more than two weeks after suffering a bleed on the skull against Chris Eubank Jr.

Williams’ stablemate was also Blackwell.

Williams acknowledged that he had a hard time filling the void left by hanging up his gloves, like so many other retired fighters.

“It was]rubbish]. After a few weeks or months, life becomes “is this it?” ‘”, he said.

Since I was nine years old, I have boxed. It’s inside of me. That’s why I’m who I am.

By persuading Lockett, the Welshman persuaded him that his stable’s top talents, including former world champion Joe Cordina, former world champion Gavin Gwynne, and British champion Rhys Edwards, could still give him something in the sport. The pair is now getting ready to resume working together.

The Machine, whose record is 25-5-1 and has 20 wins via knockout or stoppage, said, “Things went very well, no one took my head off.”

“You can drop dead if you go and get another concussion.” I thought I could still fight against Eubank Jr., which was a bit of an idiot move, he said.

I was putting on too much weight. It’s difficult to recover from that last week, when you lost the most weight in the 12 to 18 hours before the weigh-in.

I was contemplating “I’m going to fall over” while standing on the scales.

After battling to reach the 11st 6 lbs. (160 lbs.) middleweight weight limit, Williams intended to return eight pounds heavier at the “safe option” of super-middleweight.

Thoughts of CTE permeate his mind despite his newfound apprehension.

He said, “I always have had children, which is something I have to think about.”

At this point, two years ago, it was much more of a worry. I’ve put my belongings together now, and I’m doing things right.

Williams insisted that after four months of training, he had won back the confidence of his coach and that he was also much more in a better state of mind than when he was battling Sheeraz.

He says, “I’m happy, you are looking good,” Williams said after our conversation.

“I’m at the point where I’m ready to make an announcement right now.”

What else can a man like the British, European, and Commonwealth boxing world expect from him?

“I’ve returned for the same reason I once boxed for.” The only thing that would happen would be to win the world title. Realistically, he said, “I don’t know if I’ll go back there.”

“The only goal is to fight as many fights as possible,” he said. I’m going to fight one more time, not as a five-year comeback.

“We will have longer if things are going well.” It won’t be that long if things don’t go as planned.