World dream comes true for 'warrior' Wilson

Liam Wilson will fight for a world boxing title in Arizona early next year - after a dramatic turn of events in the last 48 hours.

Wilson, who trains at All Star Boxing Academy in Lawnton, is to face Mexico’s Emmanuel Navarette for the vacant WBO (World Boxing Organisation) super featherweight title.

Fox Sports is reporting the bout will be at the Diamond Desert Arena in Glendale, Arizona on February 2 – one week later than his original fight plan.

Wilson, who grew up in Caboolture and is world ranked three, was to have faced Britain’s Archie Sharp, ranked one, in Las Vegas on January 29 in an eliminator for a shot at the world title.

Navarette, the WBO Featherweight champion, was to fight fellow countryman Oscar Valdez, world ranked two, on the Glendale promotion having moved up a weight.

But Valdez is reported to have been injured in training this week and pulled out of the fight for the vacant super featherweight belt.

Wilson’s promotor No Limit Boxing stepped in and secured the contest, leaving manager Steve Scanlon to tell the Griffin resident his dream was to become realty.

Scanlon told Fox Sports Wilson’s first reaction was: “No, you’re lying.” To which Scanlon assured him: “I’m not lying, mate!”

Once the news sank in Wilson, whose training camp will be in the us, told Fox Sports: “I’m just excited to show the world what I’m made of.

“I understand I’m up against a world champion from Mexico, a Mexican warrior. But I think he’s about to face an Australian warrior.”

Wilson has a record of 11 wins and one defeat – immediately avenged with a ‘left hook from hell’ - in 12 fights. Navarette is a year older at 27 and has 36 wins from 37 contests.

Wilson’s career began at Kingaroy, but it was in Caboolture where he spent the formative boxing years.

Caboolture coach Don Tindall predicted on social media two years ago: “I knew he was going to be a champion from that first night.”