George Liddard vs Dario Morello fight preview, bettings odds, prediction

George Liddard vs Dario Morello full fight details

Undefeated Brit George Liddard (14-0, 8 KOs) takes the natural step up to the European middleweight title on Saturday, August 22 at the Copper Box Arena, London against Italian "Spartan" Dario Morello (26-1, 4 KOs), live on DAZN.

Fight preview

33 from Italy, Morello has won 26 from 27 pro bouts, which followed from a successful 87-bout amateur career that ended with the record of 58-27-2.

After following his amateur boxing father to the gym at the age of only four, he caught the boxing bug and begun his amateur career 10 years later. In 2009, he won gold at the Italian Junior Championships then won international bronze at tournaments in Hungary and a silver in Croatia.

He turned pro in 2015 and raced to 15-0, winning and defending the Italian welterweight title. In his 15th contest, in June 2019, he claimed the WBO Global welterweight strap, but then lost it in his first and only defeat three months on.

Since his sole career defeat to Luther Clay, "The Spartan" has won 11 in a row, unbeaten in almost seven years now, and collected three belts - the WBC Mediterranean, Italian, and EBU Silver middleweight titles.

Billericay boxer, George Liddard, is just 24-years-old still and has already won British, Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental middleweight titles.

Aged 23 at the time, Liddard became the youngest British and Commonwealth middleweight titleholder in history.

As an amateur, he won four national titles and gold at two international tournaments. He has carried that illustriousness into the paid ranks.

Trained by Kevin Mitchell, George turned pro in 2022 and won his first three fights by knockout. In his last two fights, he has stopped Kieron Conway in the 10th round to win the Lonsdale belt, then he defended it against former European titlist Tyler Denny via unanimous decision - 116-112 x3.

Now, the European title is the natural progression, but the youngster has a very seasoned opponent standing in his way.

Quotes

George Liddard: “Listen, it’s becoming a common theme being up here as the main event. I’m getting used to it now. It’s not going to change. You’re going to see me up here many more times.

“Every test I’ve been given I’ve passed. Every time someone’s been put to me, I’ve said yes. I’ve never said no to nobody. My team will vouch for me for that and so will Matchroom. I’ve never turned down anyone, and I’ve always performed. I’m talking the talk, but I’ll also walk the walk. That’s what matters. It’s all good saying these things but you’ve actually got to do them. Consistently I’ve proven that I’m capable of that. Let’s go pick up this European Title Saturday night and push on to World honours.

“Dario says he’s ready to get in with a lion. Well, I’m like three lions put together. He’s going to find out the hard way.

“Nobody is more motivated than me. I will do everything necessary and go to every depth to get the win. I’m going to do it in style tomorrow night – just watch.”

Dario Morello: “It means everything. I worked a lot for this moment. I have worked all of my life for this moment. I want to take it. I have to take it. I am 33 years old. I am mature enough, I have trained enough and I want this title. I will take it.

“Inside the ring it is just me and him. So, we have to fight, and the best man will win. I am very prepared. He is too. It isn’t enough to beat me. I’m pretty sure about this and I will prove this on August 22.

“I don’t care about George Liddard. I will win on points.”

Weigh-in Results

Prelims live on DAZN 5pm (BST)

6x3 Middleweight Contest 
Harley Burrows (164.6lbs)
Carlos Miguel Ronner (165.6lbs)

6x3 Middleweight Contest
Ioan Croft (161.6lbs)
Tomas Reynoso (163lbs)

6x3 Super Featherweight
Louie Ward (133lbs) 
Jon Martinez (134.4lbs)

4x3 Featherweight contest
Connor Mitchell (129.4lbs)
Caine Singh (129.6lbs)

Live on DAZN 7pm (BST)

10x2 Commonwealth Featherweight Championship
Tiah Mai Ayton (125.6lbs)
Ellie Hellewell (125.6lbs)

12x3 Commonwealth Middleweight Championship 
Jimmy Sains (159.5lbs) 
Tom Cowling (159.6lbs)

10x3 English Middleweight Championship
Leli Buttigieg (159.4lbs)
PA Gordon (159.1lbs)

12x3 European Middleweight Championship
George Liddard (159.8lbs) 
Dario Morello (159.3lbs)

Bettings Odds

2/15 George Liddard

7/1 Dario Morello

20/1 Draw

Prediction

Liddard is a confident, compact boxer, capable of landing powerful hooks. He is a counter-puncher who keeps his guard high and his weapons cocked, ready to unleash at any time. He likes to come forward, apply pressure, and fight at mid-range where he is able to slip shots and counter back. He is adept at pivoting off on his front foot in a defensive move, plus he is a great inside fighter too. He has that exciting style where he stays within range at all times, so he is known for taking a few big shots back. Even at 24, he loves a war!

Switch-hitter Morello is an elusive, defensive fighter, who likes to stylishly slip shots and roll under punches with his hands dropped and then counter back, but he doesn't possess a lot of power. Morello even adopts a Philly Shell and has the shoulder roll nailed down. He must be a frustrating opponent to fight against because he is very slippery. One opponent failed to land a dozen punches on him and when Morello smiled back after the bell sounded and offered to touch gloves, the frustrated foe shook his head angrily and refused.

Liddard hasn't put a foot wrong yet, but he does possess a potentially risky style of fighting. Although this is a step up for him, it's the natural progression from British and Commonwealth level. He's still young and has an older, vaster experienced opponent in front of him, but he's fresh, confident, and backed by thousands of partisan fans on fight night.

I have no doubt, Liddard will be straight on the front foot, while Morello skips back, and it will stay like that throughout. Dario will be tricky and awkward, but I believe that Liddard will soon earn his respect once he predicts the patterns and begins catching him.

Liddard against a big puncher could be risky, but Morello is particularly negative in the way he fights and doesn't have a knockout punch on him.

Liddard to dominate this fight after a few tricky opening rounds to navigate, possibly by stoppage after the first quarter, so round five onwards. However, if Morello is particularly problematic with his movement, then it could go the distance, but I'd still have the home fighter winning.

DID YOU KNOW? During a 2010 tournament in Ukraine, 16-year-old Dario Morello staged a dramatic comeback, after trailing 1-7 in the first round, causing a Ukrainian spectator to liken his resilience and triumph to the Spartans, forever earning him the nickname "Spartan."