Australia’s Liam Wilson is preparing to throw down against superstar Gervonta Davis as part of a huge US training camp that has also seen him partner up with one of America’s top fight coaches.
Already ranked among the breakout stars of Australian boxing, 26-year-old Wilson was on Friday officially confirmed to fight Mexican Emanuel Navarrete for the WBO super featherweight title in Arizona come February 4 (AEST).
Set to take place just a week after Tim Tszyu looks to unify the super welterweight division in Las Vegas – a card Wilson himself was initially slated to fight on – the event could see Australia start the year with two new world champions.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia from Washington DC, where he is now based, the Queenslander revealed he is slated to spar not only ‘Tank’ Davis in the next fortnight, but also former champions Lamont Roach and Austin Trout.
The incredible sparring opportunities have been given to the Caboolture product following his decision to bunker down at the famed HeadBangers Boxing Gym in Washington, which is run by leading US fight coach Barry Hunter.
Apart from having worked with the likes of Lamont Peterson, Adrien Broner, Shakur Stevenson and Errol Spence, Hunter is also co-trainer for boxing megastar Davis and works with top British fighter Isaac Dogboe – who has twice fought Wilson’s world title opponent Navarrete previously.
While Dogboe lost both world title fights, his ability to go the distance — coupled with Hunter’s obvious expertise — have seen Team Wilson employ the HeadBangers crew to work in partnership and develop a game plan to upset the Mexican two-division champ famed for his unpredictable fight style.
“Obviously Isaac and Barry know exactly what I’m up against,” Wilson explained from his Washington hotel.
“So they’ve really taken the lead on helping me prepare.
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“I’ve also got my trainer Benny Harrington here and we’re all working together to implement a game plan for this fight.
“We all talk before training, during training – I’ve always got my ears open.
“The guys have been giving us insights on what to expect, how to beat Navarrete and what he brings to a fight.
“And because our training sessions are going for over three hours we tend to cover plenty of stuff.”
Wilson also confirmed he expects to spar three-division champion Davis, who is himself fighting on January 7 before an anticipated blockbuster against Ryan Garcia.
“There’s been talk about Gervonta Davis coming in here before his fight in January,” Wilson said.
“And I’m told Lamont Roach is also coming in which is great.
“Over here, new fighters are coming into the gym each day.
“So it will be interesting to see who comes through those doors.”
Asked how he was planning to prepare for Navarrete’s unique, and unpredictable style, the Aussie continued: “You’re never going to find someone with his style.
“But the way I’m preparing right now is, during sparring, to bring in a new guy every round.
“So it could be an orthodox fighter, a southpaw, a tall fighter, shorter guy, somebody who is wild — I just alternate between them every round.
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“That way, I’m always facing something new.
“Some guys are fast, or powerful, some throw uppercuts from the floor like Navarrete does … I’m getting new fighters every day.”
Wilson added that working at HeadBangers Gym, and under the tutelage of coach Hunter, was nothing like anything he has experienced before in his breakout career.
“At home, a session usually takes me 90 minutes,” the fighter explains. “And that was what I thought was intense work.
“But over here, today I’ve just trained for almost three hours.
“It was the same as yesterday.
“By the end, I’m absolutely rooted.
“I’ve been in 12 training camps before this one and I thought they were training camps. But now I’ve been here, it’s ‘wow – this is how you really prepare’.”
The world title showdown represents a huge step up for Wilson, who was originally scheduled to fight Archie Sharp on the undercard of Tszyu’s bout with Jermell Charlo.
Navarrete was initially slated to fight Oscar Valdez for the WBO super featherweight title, which was vacated after American sensation Shakur Stevenson failed to make weight for his September victory over Robson Conceicao.
But after Valdez suffered an injury in training, a huge opportunity opened up for No.3 contender Wilson.