Steve Williams believes he is ready to end Ashley Theophane's reign as British light-welterweight champion on May 19.
Liverpudlian looking forward to title fight on home soil
Steve Williams believes he is ready to end Ashley Theophane's reign as British light-welterweight champion at Aintree on May 19.
The popular Liverpudlian came up short when he fought Lenny Daws for the title almost two years ago, but he says a lot has changed since then.
The 28-year-old has been working hard on his technique in the gym and it paid off with a second round stoppage victory over the previously unbeaten Karl Place in December.
"I've just been working a lot more on technique, tightening up on my defence, working on a better jab instead of just plodding forward and hoping to get them in the later rounds," he told
Sky Sports.
"At this level I need to be a bit cleverer, so I've just been trying to add things, and I feel like I am improving.
"Last time out against Karl Place was a good result for me, it really felt like everything fell into place. I did expect the stoppage but I thought it would be in the later rounds, wearing him down.
"As it turned out it was quite quick. I'm getting a bit more snappier with my punches and I think with that comes a bit more power.
"I'm focusing on being super fit, the fitness is a key factor in this fight because he usually comes on strong in the later rounds, and that's normally where he takes over. I'm braced for 12 rounds."
Vulnerable
Theophane beat Daws to take the title and is now just one win away from keeping the Lonsdale Belt outright in what will be his third defence.
However, there were signs in his latest contest against late replacement Ben Murphy that the 31-year-old journeyman is vulnerable when the fight is taken to him - something that Williams is keen to exploit.
"He's had it all his own way, he likes to fight with a lot of space, but we saw in his last fight what happens when someone tries to rush him," Williams added.
"I think that's where he's at his worst, under pressure. I've got to just keep the pressure on, not give him time to think and space to get his shots off. At close range he doesn't look too good, so that's my plan to try to outbox him.
"I've been looking forward to this opportunity since I lost to Lenny Daws and now it's come I'm feeling great and I'm going to get that belt this time.
"There's a load of good fights out there for me but i'm not looking past this one."
