We analyse the profile and characteristics of George Liddard and Derrick Osaze as the pair get set to contest a middleweight showdown at the top of the latest Matchroom NXT GEN series in London on Friday night.
The Matchroom NXT GEN Series doesn’t feature on the boxing calendar as often as it should but nonetheless when these fight cards come along we are given a chance to watch potential stars of the future.
Two of them are Junaid Bostan and George Liddard and, on Friday night in London, both prospects will look to stand out in their respective fights against Bilal Fawaz and Derrick Osaze, respectively.
In this edition of 'Tale of The Tape', however, we look at Liddard and his biggest test to date against Osaze.
George Liddard | Derrick Osaze | |
Age: | 22 | 31 |
Nickname: | 'The Billericay Bomber' | 'Delboy The Punching Preacher' |
Height: | 5ft 10ins | 5ft 9ins |
Reach: | 70ins | 70ins |
Weight: | Middleweight | Middleweight |
Trainer: | Tony Sims | Barrington Brown |
Record: | 10-0 (6 KOs) | 13-2 (3 KOs) |
Last Fight: | Won (TKO) v Omar Nguale Ilunga (December 2024) | Lost (TKO) v Denzel Bentley (August 2024) |
Proud to represent Billericay and proud to represent West Ham Utd, George Liddard is a crowd-pleasing unbeaten middleweight who could be a headline act for many years to come after 2025.
On Friday, inside Indigo at The O2, Liddard has an opportunity to put himself into contention for domestic title fights when he faces Derrick Osaze.
Liddard hits hard and hits often as proven in his first 10 fights to date.
He hasn’t had everything his own way, however, but more often than not once Liddard gets to work from his powerful right hand to the soul crushing body shots there is a great possibility his opponent won’t hear the final bell.
But, on Friday night, Liddard could be pushed back by Derrick Osaze who has gone the distance with former European middleweight champion Tyler Denny and holds a win over current Commonwealth titlist Kieron Conway - albeit over three rounds in an Ultimate BOXXER tournament five years ago.
Liddard’s matchmakers though have spotted a chance for their man to make a name for himself thanks to Osaze’s last fight.
Being wiped out in two rounds by world title contender Denzel Bentley pointed to a man potentially on the slide. If Liddard could do something similar and just as early then it will create even more buzz around him.
Strengths | Weaknesses |
Explosive power | Smothers his work |
Front foot pressure | Looks for KO too often |
Turning defence into attack | Level of opponents |
Inside fighting | Loves a tear-up too often |
The career of Derrick Osaze may not reach world title level but sometimes boxing provides an even bigger reward than a belt and a healthy bank balance.
Osaze is a religious man and says God led him to boxing after a childhood which involved difficulties at school and anger issues.
The boxing gym cured both and taught him the importance of self-discipline and crucially kept him out of trouble.
All of which got him back to education gaining a BA (Hons) in Business Management and a Master’s in Sports Psychology after attending Nottingham Trent University.
As a professional boxer, winning the Ultimate BOXXER III tournament in May 2019 remains his greatest achievement.
Knocking George Liddard off his perch would help erase the disappointment of being blasted away by Denzel Bentley!
If he doesn’t, however, Osaze may have to get used to being used as a gatekeeper for prospects in the months and years to come.
Strengths | Weaknesses |
Inside fighting | Carries chin high |
Front foot pressure | Boxing at distance |
Backhand | Power |
Physicality | Footwork |